This report describes the worldwide situation of the more than 15 million people who are refugees and the further 20 million people who are internally displaced. It describes some of the reasons behind their flight and the problems they face later, whether from governments’ circumventing international law or their obstruction and deterrence of asylum-seekers. This report also examines asylum procedures and international obligations towards asylum-seekers. The report contains a number of illustrative cases and detailed recommendations to governments of asylum and the international community at large. Appendices give the current state of international and regional refugee standards and a brief description of the UN High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) and its Executive Committee (EXCOM).
