The Rights of Refugees under International Law

by James C. Hathaway

This book presents the first comprehensive analysis of the human rights of refugees as set by the UN Refugee Convention. In an era where States are increasingly challenging the logic of simply assimilating refugees to their own citizens, questions are now being raised about whether refugees should be allowed to enjoy freedom of movement, to work, to access public welfare programs, or to be reunited with family members. Doubts have been expressed about the propriety of exempting refugees from visa and other immigration rules, and whether there is a duty to admit refugees at all. Hathaway links the standards of the UN Refugee Convention to key norms of international human rights law, and applies his analysis to the world's most difficult protection challenges. This is a critical resource for advocates, judges, and policymakers. It will also be a pioneering scholarly work for graduate students of international and human rights law.

Genres: Nonfiction, Law, Academic

1233 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 2005

Reviews

[Abdulla · Rating 1 out of 5]

This concise work delivers a legally rigorous primer on refugee rights, firmly rooted in the 1951 Convention and Hathaway’s foundational frameworks. It excels in dissecting core entitlements—non-refoulement, access to work and family reunification—while integrating jurisprudential examples to trace global enforcement trends. Its accessible structure and doctrinal clarity make it a pragmatic resource for students and practitioners. Yet the text stumbles in its refusal to engage with the seismic shifts reshaping refugee law. Critical 21st-century challenges—climate displacement, AI-driven asylum vetting, and biometric surveillance—are conspicuously absent, as are analyses of modern crises (Ukraine, Rohingya, Sudan). This omission divorces the narrative from today’s geopolitical urgency. Similarly, the book sidesteps contentious debates, such as state sovereignty versus refugee rights (e.g., EU border externalisation, Australia’s offshore detention), opting instead for a surface-level critique of systemic enforcement gaps. Why do compliance failures persist? Are conventions outdated? The silence is glaring.

[Angeliki · Rating 2 out of 5]

Read this for Non - refoulement as part of international customary law.