Refugees and Social Protection

Tamara A. Kool, Zina Nimeh

Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceedingChapterAcademic

Abstract

Set out under SDG 1, social protection is a right enshrined in international human right law; yet, it is often state-backed and citizenship-based. This means that refugees and other ʼnon-citizens’ groups are excluded from access to benefits. In this chapter, we discuss how and why meeting the social protection needs of refugees must be viewed as a critical item on policy agendas, and how it would be a crucial step to establish a long-term strategy that assists refugees (especially those in protracted situations) to have productive lives and accomplish an adequate level of well-being. The chapter specifically delineates between the contexts of low and middle income countries versus Europe. It illustrates that the access for refugees to social protection varies and depends on a multiplicity of factors, including the host country’s legal framework, the maturity of the social protection system in place, and the ability to incorporate shock-responsive social protection mechanisms within social protection programming.

Original languageEnglish
Title of host publicationHandbook on Social Protection Systems
EditorsEsther Schüring, Markus Loewe
Place of PublicationCheltenham & Northampton
PublisherEdward Elgar Publishing
Chapter23
Pages410-422
ISBN (Electronic)9781839109119
ISBN (Print)9781839109102
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 2021

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