Legal Definitions - nonrefoulement

Definition: Nonrefoulement is a French term that refers to the right of a refugee not to be sent back to a country where their life or freedom would be in danger. This means that a person who has fled their home country and is seeking asylum in another country cannot be forced to return to their home country if they would face persecution or harm there.

Examples:

• A person from Syria who has fled their home country due to the ongoing civil war cannot be sent back to Syria if they would face harm or persecution there.
• A person from Afghanistan who has fled their home country due to the Taliban's control cannot be sent back to Afghanistan if they would face harm or persecution there.

These examples illustrate the concept of nonrefoulement because they show that a person who has fled their home country due to danger or persecution cannot be forced to return to that country. This is an important protection for refugees, as it ensures that they are not sent back to a situation where their life or freedom would be at risk.