For 75 years, the 1951 Refugee Convention has served as a global commitment to protect refugees, and as a tool for states to manage global displacement. But today, many of the world's 41 million refugees face attacks on their rights and governments that seek to return them to harm. We reflect on the history of the Convention, how this foundational document has served refugees and governments over the years, and the failure of many states to meet their obligations to protect refugees today. In this episode, we hear from scholar James Hathaway about the objectives, intentions, and limitations of the Convention. He discusses how the Convention balances states' interests and refugee rights and offers ideas to improve international systems and enhance refugee protection considering current political realities. Then we sit down with Human Rights First's Eleanor Acer who unpacks how governments, including the Trump administration, are undermining the core tenets of refugee protection and mischaracterizing global displacement dynamics. She offers potential reforms to ensure the Convention is relevant to today's world. Time Takeaways [3:17] What is the Refugee Convention? [5:06] Discretion v. obligation: states' roles in protecting refugees' rights [8:04] There is no "right way" to become a refugee – because states haven't built one [16:27] How multilateral cooperation and enforceable commitments can improve the global refugee system [34:40] Unpacking the Trump Administration's critiques of the Refugee Convention [39:15] Global trends: are other governments following the United States' lead or affirming their commitment to the Convention? [48:17] Roundup: Displacement in the news this week Mentioned in This Episode: <a href="https://www.state.gov/releases/office-of-the-spokesperson/2025/09/deputy-secretary-of-state-christopher-landau-at-the-panel-global-refugee-asylum-system-what-went-wrong-and-how-to-fix-it/"> Deputy Secretary of State Christopher Landau at the Panel "The Global Refugee and Asylum System: What Went Wrong and How to Fix It"</a> - The Department of State <a href="https://www.aei.org/events/keynote-address-by-uk-home-secretary-suella-braverman-uk-us-security-priorities-for-the-21st-century-web/"> Keynote Address by UK Home Secretary Suella Braverman: UK-US Security Priorities for the 21st Century</a> - American Enterprise Institute <a href="https://www.unhcr.org/us/50-by-35">The 50 by 35 vision</a> - UNHCR <a href="https://repository.law.umich.edu/facarticles/2352/">The Global Cop-Out on Refugees</a> – James Hathaway <a href="https://www.humanrightsfirst.org/library/as-refugee-convention-approaches-its-75th-anniversary-global-civil-society-coalition-calls-for-strengthened-implementation"> Global Civil Society Coalition Statement on the 75th Anniversary of the Refugee Convention</a> - Human Rights First <a hre

The Refugee Convention at 75: An Important Legacy, an Uncertain Future

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