Which term describes a form of refugee who has fled their country of origin and seeks protection due to a well-founded fear of persecution on grounds such as political opinion, religion, ethnicity, race or nationality, or membership of a particular social group?

Which term describes a form of refugee who has fled their country of origin and seeks protection due to a well-founded fear of persecution on grounds such as political opinion, religion, ethnicity, race or nationality, or membership of a particular social group?

• A. Asylum seekers
• B. Refugees
• C. Migrants
• D. Displaced persons

Answer: (A)

When someone flees their country and seeks protection because they fear persecution for reasons like political opinion, religion, ethnicity, race or nationality, or membership of a particular social group, they are an asylum seeker while their claim is being decided. The grounds you see are exactly the criteria used to define a refugee under international law, but the term describes the person before protection is granted. If the asylum claim is accepted, the person becomes a refugee. Other terms don’t fit because a migrant is moving for non-protection reasons, and displaced persons refers to people forced to move but not necessarily crossing an international border or seeking asylum. A refugee, in contrast, is someone who has been recognized as needing and receiving protection.

When someone flees their country and seeks protection because they fear persecution for reasons like political opinion, religion, ethnicity, race or nationality, or membership of a particular social group, they are an asylum seeker while their claim is being decided. The grounds you see are exactly the criteria used to define a refugee under international law, but the term describes the person before protection is granted. If the asylum claim is accepted, the person becomes a refugee. Other terms don’t fit because a migrant is moving for non-protection reasons, and displaced persons refers to people forced to move but not necessarily crossing an international border or seeking asylum. A refugee, in contrast, is someone who has been recognized as needing and receiving protection.