UNHCR's Refworld

Refworld is the leading source of information necessary for taking quality decisions on refugee status. Refworld contains a vast collection of reports relating to situations in countries of origin, policy documents and positions, and documents relating to international and national legal frameworks. The information has been carefully selected and compiled from UNHCR's global network of field offices, Governments, international, regional and non-governmental organizations, academic institutions and judicial bodies.

The new, internet-based Refworld 2007, was launched on 14 June 2007 at UNHCR Headquarters. The new Refworld, available at http://www.refworld.org, is an advanced, state-of-the-art protection information and knowledge resource which facilitates quality, evidence-based and effective decision-making in refugee status determination procedures.

The complete contents of Refworld – including country reports, national legislation and case law and all public-domain UNHCR protection policies and guidelines – are now, for the first time, freely accessible to all UNHCR staff, external partners and the public at large to use.

Refworld features:

• More than 76,000 documents relating to countries of origin and asylum and to key protection issues;
• Daily document updates;
• Documents available in full-text, based on information-sharing agreements with strategic information partners;
• Documents such as UNHCR country and thematic positions, third-party country reports, case law from both international and national courts, national legislation, research papers, and training manuals;
• Excellent and user-friendly browsing and searching facilities

The Status Determination and Protection Information Section in the Division of International Protection Services in Geneva can be contacted at e-mail refworld (@)unhcr.org or fax +41-22-739-7396, in case you have any questions.