Refugees from Afghanistan in Iran (Image by EU/ECHO Pierre Prakash via Flickr)
According to the United Nations, one person is forcibly displaced every two seconds. With more than 68 million displaced people throughout the globe (25.4 million of which are refugees), ensuring protections for migrants and refugees is a top priority for many members of the international community.
Exploring the topic of migration and refugees in the classroom provides context for current events, promotes empathy and understanding, and helps to create global citizens with a strong foundation in this key social and political issue.
Teaching Materials
Primary Source Documents
TWELVE NATIONS SIGN THE CONVENTION CONCERNING THE STATUS OF REFUGEES, GENEVA, JULY 1951 (ES VIA UN PHOTO)
Convention Concerning the Status of Refugees, 1951
The UN’s Convention Related to the Status of Refugees was ratified in 1951 to deal with the millions of displaced persons in the wake of World War II. It defines the term “refugee” and outlines the rights of those who meet the criteria for obtaining refugee status. Learn more >
Migrant workers in Virginia, USA (image by Laura Elizabeth Pohl/Bread for the World via Flickr)
International Convention on the Protection of the Rights of All Migrant Workers and Members of Their Families, 1990
The United Nations adopted the International Convention on the Protection of the Rights of All Migrant Workers and Members of Their Families to ensure that the human rights of migrants are protected, regardless of which country they are in. Learn more >
Additional Resources
Global Compact for Migration
The Global Compact for Migration is the world’s first intergovernmentally negotiated agreement to cover all aspects of migration. It provides a framework for international cooperation and demonstrates the international community’s willingness to ensure that migrants’ human rights are respected.
International Organization for Migration
The International Organization for Migration (IOM) is an international agency working with governments and civil society to promote an understanding of migrant issues and uphold the well-being of migrants and their families.
Migration, Environment and Climate Change
As the world sees the worsening effects of climate change, the number of environmental migrants will continue to grow. Learn more about the connections between climate change and migration from the International Organization for Migration.
UNHCR, the UN Refugee Agency
The United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) was established in 1950 in the aftermath of World War II. Since then, UNHCR has assisted more than 65 million refugees. It currently operates in more than 130 countries.
Universal Declaration of Human Rights, Article 14: Right to Asylum
In the aftermath of the Holocaust, the authors of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR) wanted to ensure that all individuals would have protection if they needed to flee from their home country. Article 14 of the UDHR guarantees the right to asylum for all individuals.
What is the difference between a migrant and a refugee?
Do you know what the difference is between a migrant and a refugee? This short video by the UNHCR explains why refugees might flee their home countries and what protections they are entitled to.