Perspectief 2017-36

2017-36 JT General introduction 5 Reageer 3. Terminology With the central phrase in this research being ‘refugees’, it is essential to determine its definition before we start an in-depth study of Christian approaches towards them. Let us look briefly at the most commonly used definition, that of international humanitarian law, and then compare it to the two churches’ descriptions. The 1951 United Nations Convention relating to the Status of Refugees 11 states that “(…) the term ‘refugee’ shall apply to any person who: (…) owing to a well-founded fear of being persecuted for reasons of race, religion, nationality, membership of a particular social group or political opinion, is outside the country of his nationality , and is unable to, or owing to such fear, is unwilling to avail himself of the protection of that country” (my emphasis). The Roman Catholic Church has adopted a different view on the word ‘refugee’ than international law has. Although it has never released an official definition of ‘refugee’, due largely to the fact that distinguishing between refugees and migrants has become increasingly difficult, one can discern which people the Church attributes this label to by studying magisterial documents and statements of Church-related organisations 12 . Thus it becomes clear that the Catholic Church regards as refugees anyone fleeing life- 11 The Refugee Convention was adopted at a conference in Geneva in 1951, as a response to the predicaments of millions of World War Two refugees. Together with its 1967 protocol the Convention defines who is a refugee and outlines the rights of refugees and the duties of states pertaining to these rights. 148 nations have signed the Convention, the Protocol or both. (UNHCR [2011] The 1951 Convention relating to the Status of Refugees and its 1967 Protocol , Geneva, UNHCR.) 12 E.g. Pope John Paul II (2003) Migration with a View to Peace accessed September 10, 2016 at http://w2.vatican.va/content/john-paul-ii/en/messages/migration/documents/hf_jp- ii_mes_20031223_world-migration-day-2004.html; Pontifical Council for the Pastoral Care of Migrants and Itinerant People & Pontifical Council Cor Unum for Human and Christian Development (2013) Welcoming Christ in Refugees and Forcibly Displaced Persons Vatican City; Jesuit Refugee Service (undated) Who Are Refugees? accessed May 20, 2015 a t http://en.jrs.net/refugees.