International Refugee Law and Socio-Economic Rights

A range of emerging refugee claims is beginning to challenge the boundaries of the Refugee Convention regime and question traditional distinctions between 'economic migrants' and 'political refugees'. This book identifies the conceptual and analytical challenges presented by claims based on socio-economic deprivation, and undertakes an assessment of the extent to which these challenges may be overcome by a creative interpretation of the Refugee Convention, consistent with correct principles of international treaty interpretation.

The central argument is that, notwithstanding the dichotomy between 'economic migrants' and 'political refugees', the Refugee Convention is capable of accommodating a more complex analysis which recognizes that many claims based on socio-economic deprivation are indeed properly considered within the purview of the Refugee Convention. This, the first book to consider these issues, will be of great interest to refugee law scholars, advocates, decision-makers and non-governmental organizations.

• This is the first book to consider the cutting edge issue of refugee claims based on the deprivation of socio-economic rights
• The book contains extensive original case-law research across five common law jurisdictions on an important contemporary issue of international refugee law
• This book provides an excellent resource for refugee advocates, policy-makers (such as NGOs) and refugee decision-makers around the world