When these rights are violated, many countries participate in a global humanitarian response, providing aid and helping to resettle people who cannot return to their countries. As a signatory to the United Nations Refugee Convention, Australia accepts these human rights standards. The Convention defines who is considered a refugee and what obligations other countries have towards them. Australia is committed to the fundamental principle underlying the Convention - namely, that all participating countries have an obligation not to return people to places where they will face persecution. Australia has a duty to protect people who have a well-founded fear of persecution on the grounds set out above.
Refugees have a right under international law to claim that protection.
Australia allocated 12,000 places for refugees and other displaced people under the 2000- 2001 Humanitarian Program. The Special Assistance Category will be phased out in 2000-2001. The actual number of places granted depends on how many applications are approved. The majority of refugees arrive through one of Australia's resettlement schemes. This means that they may have already spent several months or even years in a refugee camp overseas.