Who is a Refugee? A person who has been forced to flee his/her country because of persecution, war, or violence UN Convention Relating to the Status of Refugee, 1951 Refugee- A person who is outside his/her country of nationality or habitual residence; fears persecution because of his/her race, religion, nationality, membership in a particular social group or political opinion; and is unable or unwilling to avail himself/herself of the protection of that country, or to return