Exchange to change February 2016 | Page 6

Europe and the asylum crisis According to the 1951 Geneva Convention relating to the Status of Refugees, a refugee is “a person who is outside his or her country of nationality or habitual residence; and has a wellfounded fear of being persecuted because of his or her race, religion, nationality, membership of a particular social group or political opinion; and is unable or unwilling to avail him-or herself of the protection of that country, or to return there, for fear of persecution”. 6