UNHCR, United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees States Parties to the 1951 Convention relating to the Status of Refugees and the 1967 Protocol The Convention was drafted and signed by the United Nations Conference of Plenipotentiaries on the Status of Refugees and Stateless Persons, held at Geneva from 2 to 25 July 1951. The Conference was convened pursuant to General Assembly resolution 429 (V) of 14 December 1950. The Convention was adopted on 28 July 1951; in accordance with Article 43, it entered into force on 22 April 1954. The Protocol was adopted on 31 January 1967; it entered into force on 4 October 1967 in accordance with its Article VIII. States Parties (as of April 2015)i Total number of States Parties to the 1951 Convention: Total number of States Parties to the 1967 Protocol: States Parties to both the Convention and Protocol: States Parties to one or both of these instruments: States Parties to the 1951 Convention only: Madagascar, Saint Kitts and Nevis 145 146 142 148   States Parties to the 1967 Protocol only: Cabo Verde, United States of America, Venezuela (Bolivarian Republic of)   The dates indicated below are the dates of deposit of the instrument of ratification or accession by the respective States Parties with the Secretary-General of the United Nations. In accordance with Article 43 (2), the Convention enters into force on the ninetieth day after the date of deposit by the ratifying or acceding State. The Protocol enters into force on the date of deposit of each acceding State (Article VIII (2)). Exceptions are indicated below. Most recent ratification/accession: Nauru   Convention 28 June 2011 a Protocol 28 June 2011 a 1   UNHCR, United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees Country Afghanistan Albania Algeria Angola Antigua and Barbuda Argentina Armenia Australia Austria Azerbaijan Bahamas (the) Belarus Belgium Belize Benin Bolivia (Plurinational State of) Bosnia and Herzegovina Botswana Brazil Bulgaria Burkina Faso Burundi Cabo Verde Cambodia Cameroon Canada Central African Republic (the) Chad Chile China Colombia Congo (the) Costa Rica Côte d’Ivoire Croatia Cyprus (the) Czech Republic (the) Denmark Democratic Republic of the Congo (the) Djibouti Dominica Dominican Republic (the) Ecuador Egypt El Salvador Equatorial Guinea Estonia Ethiopia Fiji Finland France   Convention 30 Aug 2005 a 18 Aug 1992 a 21 Feb 1963 d 23 Jun 1981 a 07 Sep 1995 a 15 Nov 1961 a 06 Jul 1993 a 22 Jan 1954 a 01 Nov 1954 r 12 Feb 1993 a 15 Sep 1993 a 23 Aug 2001 a 22 Jul 1953 r 27 Jun 1990 a 04 Apr 1962 d 09 Feb 1982 a 01 Sep 1993 d 06 Jan 1969 a 16 Nov 1960 r 12 May 1993 a 18 Jun 1980 a 19 Jul 1963 a 15 Oct 23 Oct 04 Jun 04 Sep 19 Aug 28 Jan 24 Sep 10 Oct 15 Oct 28 Mar 08 Dec 12 Oct 16 May 11 May 04 Dec 19 July 09 Aug 17 Feb 04 Jan 17 Aug 22 May 28 Apr 07 Feb 10 Apr 10 Nov 12 Jun 10 Oct 23 Jun 1992 a 1961 d 1969 a 1962 d 1981 a 1972 a 1982 a 1961 r 1962 d 1978 a 1961 d 1992 d 1963 d 1993 d 1952 r 1965 a 1977 d 1994 a 1978 a 1955 a 1981 a 1983 a 1986 a 1997 a 1969 a 1972 d 1968 a 1954 r Protocol 30 Aug 18 Aug 08 Nov 23 Jun 07 Sep 06 Dec 06 Jul 13 Dec 05 Sep 12 Feb 15 Sep 23 Aug 08 Apr 27 Jun 06 Jul 09 Feb 01 Sep 06 Jan 07 Apr 12 May 18 Jun 15 Mar 09 Jul 15 Oct 19 Sep 04 Jun 30 Aug 19 Aug 27 Apr 24 Sep 04 Mar 10 Jul 28 Mar 16 Feb 12 Oct 09 Jul 11 May 29 Jan 13 Jan 09 Aug 17 Feb 04 Jan 06 Mar 22 May 28 Apr 07 Feb 10 Apr 10.Nov 12 Jun 10 Oct 03 Feb 2005 a 1992 a 1967 a 1981 a 1995 a 1967 a 1993 a 1973 a 1973 a 1993 a 1993 a 2001 a 1969 a 1990 a 1970 a 1982 a 1993 d 1969 a 1972 a 1993 a 1980 a 1971 a 1987 a 1992 a 1967 a 1969 a 1967 a 1981 a 1972 a 1982 a 1980 a 1970 a 1978 a 1970 a 1992 d 1968 a 1993 d 1968 a 1975 a 1977 d 1994 a 1978 a 1969 a 1981 a 1983 a 1986 a 1997 a 1969 a 1972 d 1968 a 1971 a 2   UNHCR, United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees Gabon Gambia (the) Georgia Germany Ghana Greece Guatemala Guinea Guinea-Bissau Haiti Holy See Honduras Hungary Iceland Iran (Islamic Republic of) Ireland Israel Italy Jamaica Japan Kazakhstan Kenya Kyrgyzstan Latvia Lesotho Liberia Liechtenstein Lithuania Luxembourg Madagascar Malawi Mali Malta Mauritania Mexico Monaco Montenegro Morocco Mozambique Namibia Nauru Netherlands (the) New Zealand Nicaragua Niger (the) Nigeria Norway Panama Papua New Guinea Paraguay Peru Philippines (the) Poland   27 Apr 07 Sep 09 Aug 01 Dec 18 Mar 05 Apr 22 Sep 28 Dec 11 Feb 25 Sep 15 Mar 23 Mar 14 Mar 30 Nov 28 Jul 29 Nov 01 Oct 15 Nov 30 Jul 03 Oct 15 Jan 16 May 08 Oct 31 Jul 14 May 15 Oct 08 Mar 28 Apr 23 Jul 18 Dec 10 Dec 02 Feb 17 Jun 05 May 07 June 18 May 10 Oct 07 Nov 16 Dec 17 Feb 17 Jun 03 May 30 Jun 28 Mar 25 Aug 23 Oct 23 Mar 02 Aug 17 Jul 01 Apr 21 Dec 22 Jul 27 Sep 1964 a 1966 d 1999 a 1953 r 1963 a 1960 r 1983 a 1965 d 1976 a 1984 a 1956 r 1992 a 1989 a 1955 a 1976 a 1956 a 1954 r 1954 r 1964 d 1981 a 1999 a 1966 a 1996 a 1997 a 1981 a 1964 a 1957 r 1997 a 1953 r 1967 a 1987 a 1973 d 1971 a 1987 a 2000 a 1954 a 2006 d 1956 d 1983 a 1995 a 2011 a 1956 r 1960 a 1980 a 1961 d 1967 a 1953 r 1978 a 1986 a 1970 a 1964 a 1981 a 1991 a 28 Aug 29 Sep 09 Aug 05 Nov 30 Aug 07 Aug 22 Sep 16 May 11 Feb 25 Sep 08 Jun 23 Mar 14 Mar 26 Apr 28 Jul 06 Nov 14 Jun 26 Jan 30 Oct 01 Jan 15 Jan 13 Nov 08 Oct 31 Jul 14 May 27 Feb 20 May 28 Apr 22 Apr 1973 a 1967 a 1999 a 1969 a 1968 a 1968 a 1983 a 1968 a 1976 a 1984 a 1967 a 1992 a 1989 a 1968 a 1976 a 1968 a 1968 a 1972 a 1980 a 1982 a 1999 a 1981 a 1996 a 1997 a 1981 a 1980 a 1968 a 1997 a 1971 a     10 Dec 02 Feb 15 Sep 05 May 07 June 16 June 10 Oct 20 Apr 01 May 17 Feb 17 Jun 29 Nov 06 Aug 28 Mar 02 Feb 02 May 28 Nov 02 Aug 17 Jul 01 Apr 15 Sep 22 Jul 27 Sep 1987 a 1973 a 1971 a 1987 a 2000 a 2010 a 2006 d 1971 a 1989 a 1995 a 2011 a 1968 a 1973 a 1980 a 1970 a 1968 a 1967 a 1978 a 1986 a 1970 a 1983 a 1981 a 1991 a 3   UNHCR, United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees Portugal Republic of Korea (the) Republic of Moldova Romania Russian Federation (the) Rwanda Saint Kitts and Nevis Saint Vincent and the Grenadines Samoa Sao Tome and Principe Senegal Serbia Seychelles Sierra Leone Slovakia Slovenia Solomon Islands Somalia South Africa Spain Sudan (the) Suriname Swaziland Sweden Switzerland Tajikistan The former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia Timor-Leste Togo Trinidad and Tobago Tunisia Turkey Turkmenistan Tuvalu Uganda Ukraine United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland (the) United Republic of Tanzania (the) United States of America (the) Uruguay Venezuela (Bolivarian Republic of) Yemen Zambia Zimbabwe   22 Dec 03 Dec 31 Jan 07 Aug 02 Feb 03 Jan 01 Feb 03 Nov 21 Sep 01 Feb 02 May 12 Mar 23 Apr 22 May 04 Feb 06 Jul 28 Feb 10 Oct 12 Jan 14 Aug 22 Feb 29 Nov 14 Feb 26 Oct 21 Jan 07 Dec 18 Jan 07 May 27 Feb 10 Nov 24 Oct 30 Mar 02 Mar 07 Mar 27 Sep 10 Jun 1960 a 1992 a 2002 a 1991 a 1993 a 1980 a 2002 a 1993 a 1988 a 1978 a 1963 d 2001 d 1980 a 1981 a 1993 d 1992 d 1995 a 1978 a 1996 a 1978 a 1974 a 1978 d 2000 a 1954 r 1955 r 1993 a 1994 d 2003 a 1962 d 2000 a 1957 d 1962 r 1998 a 1986 d 1976 a 2002 a 13 Jul 03 Dec 31 Jan 07 Aug 02 Feb 03 Jan 1976 a 1992 a 2002 a 1991 a 1993 a 1980 a     03 Nov 29 Nov 01 Feb 03 Oct 12 Mar 23 Apr 22 May 04 Feb 06 Jul 12 Apr 10 Oct 12 Jan 14 Aug 23 May 29 Nov 28 Jan 04 Oct 20 May 07 Dec 18 Jan 07 May 01 Dec 10 Nov 16 Oct 31 Jul 2 Mar 07 Mar 27 Sep 04 Apr 2003 a 1994 a 1978 a 1967 a 2001 d 1980 a 1981 a 1993 d 1992 d 1995 a 1978 a 1996 a 1978 a 1974 a 1978 d 1969 a 1967 a 1968 a 1993 a 1994 d 2003 a 1969 a 2000 a 1968 a 1968 a 1998 a 1986 d 1976 a 2002 a   11 Mar 12 May       1954 r 1964 a 04 Sep 04 Sep 01 Nov 22 Sep 19 Sep 18 Jan 24 Sep 25 Aug 1968 a 1968 a 1968 a 1970 a 1986 a 1980 a 1969 a 1981 a     22 Sep 1970 a     18 Jan 24 Sep 25 Aug 1980 a 1969 d 1981 a 4   UNHCR, United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees Limitations: Article 1 B (1) of the 1951 Convention provides: “For the purposes of this Convention, the words ‘events occurring before 1 January 1951’ in article 1, Section A, shall be understood to mean either (a) ‘events occurring in Europe before 1 January 1951’; or (b) ‘events occurring in Europe or elsewhere before 1 January 1951’, and each Contracting State shall make a declaration at the time of signature, ratification or accession, specifying which of these meanings it applies for the purposes of its obligations under this Convention.” The following States adopted alternative (a), the geographical limitation: Congo, Madagascar, Monaco and Turkey. Turkey expressly maintained its declaration of geographical limitation upon acceding to the 1967 Protocol. Madagascar has not yet adhered to the Protocol. All other States Parties ratified, acceded or succeeded to the Convention without a geographical limitation by selecting option (b), ‘events occurring in Europe or elsewhere before 1 January 1951’. Note: * Ratification (r), Accession (a), Succession (d).                                                              i The 1951 Convention and the 1967 Protocol are deposited with the Secretary-General of the United Nations (Article 39 (1) of the 1951 Convention and Article V of the 1967 Protocol). For the authoritative source of the current status of both treaties, please refer to the United National Treaty Collection website under status of Multilateral Treaties Deposited with the Secretary-General (MTDSG): https://treaties.un.org/Pages/Treaties.aspx?id=5&subid=A&lang=en.     5