InformingNon-Refoulement ObligationswithResponsibilitytoProtectPh.D.Candidate: JennyPoonPh.D.Supervisor:Dr. ValerieOosterveld

#1: Abstractand Introduction• Theprinciple ofnon-refoulement isacentral tenet in refugee law, whichbinds

all States regardless ofwhether theyareparties to theRefugeeConvention.• Inreality, however, theprinciple isdifficult toenforce, given thediscretionary

natureofStateinterpretation and implementation of theprinciple intodomestic law.

• Where Statesdonotadhere totheprinciple ofnon-refoulement, it isarguedthat the international communityalso hasaduty toassist theStateincomplying with theprinciple.

• Itmaybenecessary, in themostextremeofcases, for the internationalcommunity to“step in”when theStateisunwilling orunable toprotectasylumclaimants or refugees fromnon-refoulement.

• Onthisbasis, refugee lawcandraw upon theconceptofresponsibility toprotect (R2P)doctrine toestablish Stateresponsibility inpreventing individualrefugeeclaimants frombeing sentbackto their countryoforigin to facepersecution ormass atrocities (non-refoulement).

#4: Definition ofFourCrimes #5: Application ofThree Pillarsto Non-Refoulement

Ethniccleansing isdefined as• “Apurposeful policydesigned byone

ethnicor religious group to remove• Byviolentand terror-inspiring means• Thecivilian population ofanother ethnicor

religious group• Fromcertaingeographicareas”.

Crimes against humanity aredefined as• Awidespread or systematicattackdirectedagainst any

civilian population.• “Directedagainstanycivilian population” meansconduct

involving multiple commission ofactsagainst anycivilianpopulation, thatis pursuant toorin furtheranceofaStateororganizational policy tocommitsuchanattack.

• Thementalelement is established where theperpetratorhas intended to further suchanattack.

• Thescopeofknowledge neednot include knowledge ofall characteristics of theattackor theprecise details oftheplanorpolicy oftheStateor theorganization.Knowledge maybeactualorconstructive (imputed)knowledge.

Sources:PleaseaskPresenterforlistofreferences.

Genocide isdefined as• The intent todestroy, inwhole or inpart,

anational, ethnic, racialor religiousgroup.

• Thementalelementnecessary toestablish genocide is thewiping outorcompletedestruction, inwhole or inpart,aspecific group.

• Victims are targetedbased on theperpetrator’s intention toeliminate thenational, ethnic, racialor religious grouptowhich thevictimbelongs or isperceived tobelong.

Warcrimes aredefined as• “Gravebreachesof theGenevaConventions of12August 1949, namely,any

of theactsagainstpersons orpropertyprotected under theprovisions ofthe relevantGenevaConvention”, examplesofsuch includes: wilful killing;torture orinhuman treatment, including biological experiments;

• “Otherserious violations of the lawsandcustoms applicable in internationalarmedconflict, within theestablished frameworkof international law”, suchas intentionally directing attacksagainstcivilians; and

• “Serious violations ofarticle3commonto thefourGenevaConventions of12August 1949,namely, anyof theactscommittedagainst persons takingnoactivepart in thehostilities, including members ofarmed forceswhohavelaid down theirarmsand those placedhorsdecombat bysickness,wounds, detention oranyothercause”.

Pillar One

The responsibility of theStatetoprotect itspopulations, whethernationals ornot, fromgenocide,war crimes,ethniccleansing andcrimes againsthumanity, and fromtheir incitement, where theresponsibility of thestate toprotect is derivedboth fromthenatureofStatesovereignty and frompre-existing andcontinuinglegalobligations ofStates.

Pillar Two

Thecommitmentof the international community toassist StatesinmeetingPillar Oneobligations, where prevention is thekeyforasuccessful strategy forthe responsibility toprotect.

Pillar Three

The responsibility ofUnitedNations memberstates torespondcollectively inatimelyanddecisive mannerwhen aState ismanifestly failing toadhere toPillar One, whichmay involvepacificmeasures setoutunder ChapterVIoftheCharter oftheUnitedNations, coercivemethods setoutunder ChapterVII oracombination of regional andsub-regional arrangements underChapter VIII .

#3: Responsibility toProtect (R2P)

#5a): Pillar One - Sovereignty isResponsibilitySovereigntyof theStateentails the responsibility toprotectasylumclaimants and refugees frombeing refouled backto their countryoforigin to facemassatrocities:1. Asylum claimants and refugees’ rights against refoulement aregreaterthanState interests. Itisalso in the

interests of theStatetonot refoule (return)asylum claimantsor refugees backtofacemass atrocities.2. Statesestablish their legitimacyon the international stagebyadhering tointernational principles. Not refouling

asylumclaimants or refugeesbackto facemassatrocities also encouragesother Statesto follow, andstrengthenthevalidity of,theprinciple ofnon-refoulement through widespread anduniform statepractice.

3. States that refoule asylumclaimants or refugeesbackto facemassatrocities notonlyviolate theprinciple ofnon-refoulement butarealso seenashavingapoor humanrights record.

#5b): PillarTwo - Dutyto AssistOther StatesThere isadutyamongst the international community toassistotherStates inadhering to theirnon-refoulement obligations:1. Assisting other States in their compliance with theprinciple

ofnon-refoulement encouragesoverall compliancewith theprinciple andstrengthens legitimacyof theStatescomplying with theprinciple.

2. Thevalidityof theprinciple ofnon-refoulement asaprinciple ofcustomary international law throughwidespread anduniform statepracticeandopinio juris isenhancedwhere Statesassist otherStates incomplyingwith theprinciple.

3. The ruleof law in international law is strengthened asStatesassist otherStates incomplying with theprinciple ofnon-refoulement.

#5c): PillarThree - Collective Action AgainstRefoulementThe international communityhasacollectiveduty to taketimelyanddecisive action toprotectasylumclaimants and refugees frombeing refouled backto their countryoforigin tofacemassatrocities:1. Articles 1and2of theCharterof theUnitedNations (UN)require thatUNmemberstatesbe

peace-loving andcontribute to international peaceandsecurity.This dutyalso involvesprotectingthe rights ofthevulnerable - suchasasylum claimantsand refugees - whoareoftennotaccordedstatus within domestic legal systems.Thedutyofthe international community toofferprotectionandsafeguard rights of these individuals against return tomassatrocities cannotbeundermined.

2. The international community should actasacollective toofferprotection andsafeguard therights ofasylum claimantsand refugees, especially inStates’ adherence tonon-refoulementobligations. Collective action requires theconsent andcompliance of theinternationalcommunity toactfor thesame ideal. Collective action toadhere tonon-refoulement reducesinstances ofnon-compliance with theprinciple, andadds teeth toaprinciple thathasalreadybecome international custom.

3. The international community should takepositive action toprevent the refoulement ofasylumclaimants or refugees to facemassatrocities.Positive action cantakemanyforms, including butnot limited topolitical, economicor legal sanctions. Theemphasis isoncollective andpositiveaction, so that instances ofnon-compliance with non-refoulement are reduced, and thelikelihoodofasylumclaimants and refugeesbeingsent backtofacemass atrocities is lowered.

#6: FutureQuestions1. RelationshipbetweenInternallyDisplacedPersons(IDP)andResponsibilitytoProtect2. EnforcementofNon-CompliancewithNon-Refoulement

#2: Responsibility toProtect (R2P) Definition and SourceofDefinitionThere ismuchdevelopment surrounding theR2Pdoctrine itself, starting in2001.Forthepurposes of thispresentation, thedefinition ofR2Pwill be takenfromthemost recentrendition of theR2Pdoctrine, which is takenfromthe2009United Nations Secretary-Generalreport on Implementing theResponsibility toProtect (IRP)due toits currency.• R2Pasadoctrine being applicable atany timeandatanyplacehasbeen

unanimously affirmedat the2005 WorldSummit bytheHeadsofStateandGovernments present, inwhich itwasadopted that“eachindividual Statehas the responsibility toprotect itspopulations fromgenocide, warcrimes,ethniccleansing andcrimesagainst humanity”.

• R2Pembodies theidea thatstatesovereignty comeswith stateresponsibility.