Research Guides: Immigrants and Refugees: International Law

Additional Resources

Bayefsky's-- United Nations Human Rights Treaties
Broader than just immigration, this resource has many immigration related documents.
International Humanitarian Law
From the International Committee for the Red Cross.

Key Treaties

Geneva Conventions and Commentaries
Commonly thought of as the "rules of war" the Conventions, particularly the 4th Convention, address treatment of non-combatants. From the International Red Cross.
Refugees and Stateless Persons
Information on 4 key international treaties. Includes background and texts of the treaties.

International Law, Human Rights and the Rights of Migrants and Refugees

The following are some key resources on the rights of immigrants and refugees. Many of these rights are also contained in more general human rights treaties.

United Nations -- Protect Human Rights and The Universal Declaration of Human Rights
Human Rights Watch
Human Rights Center - Berkeley Law
International Human Rights guide - Penn State

UCI Law

International Human Rights Clinic

Intergovernmental Organizations

Intergovernmental Organizations (IGOs) are organizations whose membership is made up of countries. The best know example being the UN where countries appoint ambassadors to the UN.

Intergovernmental Organizations Search
A specialized Google Search Engine that allows you to cross search many IGO's at once.

UN Organizations

UNHCR -- The UN Refugee Agency
The UN's High Commissioner for Refugees works to "to ensure that everybody has the right to seek asylum and find safe refuge, having fled violence, persecution, war or disaster at home."
Human Rights Council
The council is responsible for the promotion and protection of all human rights around the globe.
International Organization for Migration
Established in 1951, IOM is the leading inter-governmental organization in the field of migration and works closely with governmental, intergovernmental and non-"governmental partners." Part of the UN family of Agencies
UN OCHA

European Union

EU Agencies involved with migration issues
Within the Directorate General for Migration and Home Affairs there are a number of agencies that deal with migration, immigration, and refugee issues. This page outlines those agencies.

Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development

OECD- Migration
The Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development, made up of the 33 largest world economies, publishes significant policy papers and data on migration issues.

Organization of American States

Main OAS homepage
OAS -- Migration
Links to the main committees and programs dealing with migration in the OAS