Protocol relating to the Status of Refugees
The Protocol was taken note of with approval by the Economic and Social Council in resolution
1186 (XLI) of 18 November 1966 and was taken note of by the General Assembly in resolution
2198 (XXI) of 16 December 1966. In the same resolution the General Assembly requested the
Secretary-General to transmit the text of the Protocol to the States mentioned in article V
thereof, with a view to enabling them to accede to the Protocol
entry into force 4 October 1967, in accordance with article VIII
The States Parties > to the present Protocol,
Considering that the Convention relating to the Status of Refugees done at Geneva on 28 July
1951 (hereinafter referred to as the Convention) covers only those persons who have become
refugees as a result of events occurring before I January 1951,
Considering that new refugee situations have arisen since the Convention was adopted and
that the refugees concerned may therefore not fall within the scope of the Convention,
Considering that it is desirable that equal status should be enjoyed by all refugees covered by
the definition in the Convention irrespective of the dateline I January 1951,
Have agreed as follows:
Article 1. General provision
1. The States Parties to the present Protocol undertake to apply articles 2 to 34 inclusive of
the Convention to refugees as hereinafter defined.
2. For the purpose of the present Protocol, the term "refugee" shall, except as regards the
application of paragraph 3 of this article, mean any person within the definition of article I of
the Convention as if the words "As a result of events occurring before 1 January 1951 and..."
and the words "...as a result of such events", in article 1 A (2) were omitted.
3. The present Protocol shall be applied by the States Parties hereto without any geographic
limitation, save that existing declarations made by States already Parties to the Convention in
accordance with article I B (I) (a) of the Convention, shall, unless extended under article I B
(2) thereof, apply also under the present Protocol.
Article 2. Co-operation of the national authorities with the United Nations
1. The States Parties to the present Protocol undertake to co-operate with the Office of the
United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees, or any other agency of the United Nations
which may succeed it, in the exercise of its functions, and shall in particular facilitate its duty
of supervising the application of the provisions of the present Protocol.
2. In order to enable the Office of the High Commissioner or any other agency of the United
Nations which may succeed it, to make reports to the competent organs of the United Nations,
the States Parties to the present Protocol undertake to provide them with the information and
statistical data requested, in the appropriate form, concerning:
(a) The condition of refugees;
(b) The implementation of the present Protocol;
(c) Laws, regulations and decrees which are, or may hereafter be, in force relating to
refugees.