Conclusion

Large-scale migration is an inevitable feature of life in the early 21st century. The drafters of the 1951 Convention Relating to the Status of Refugees did not envisage refugee movements taking place within the context of migration for economic reasons. Nonetheless, the tenets of the Refugee Convention have attained the status of customary international law, and providing a safe haven to vulnerable people fleeing persecution and conflict remains an essential obligation of all states. A global collaborative effort is required – involving affected states, donor governments, UNHCR and other UN agencies, international non-governmental organizations, and local civil society institutions – to ensure that fears of terrorism and illegal migration do not trump the imperative of providing a safe haven to people fleeing persecution and violence.