Author
Assoc Prof Amrita Singh
Organisation/Institution
Amity Law School, Amity University Mumbai
Country
INDIA
Panel
Human Rights
Title
From Statelessness to Silence: Evaluating Non-Refoulement and the Protection Deficit for Refugees in Asia
Abstract
Abstract The protection of refugees in Asia presents a profound human rights challenge shaped by statelessness, weak legal safeguards, and shrinking humanitarian space. This paper examines the widening protection deficit faced by displaced populations through the lens of the principle of non-refoulement, focusing on three major refugee experiences in the region: the Rohingya fleeing persecution in Myanmar, Afghans displaced by decades of conflict and regime transitions, and Syrians seeking refuge across West Asia. Despite its status as a cornerstone of international refugee law, non-refoulement remains inconsistently observed across Asia, where many states are not signatories to the 1951 Refugee Convention or its 1967 Protocol and instead rely on fragmented domestic frameworks, ad hoc policies, or securitised border controls. Through a comparative analysis of legal instruments, state practices, and regional geopolitics, the study highlights how the absence of formal recognition mechanisms, protracted encampment, limited access to asylum procedures, and forced returns reinforce cycles of invisibility and vulnerability. The research argues that refugee statelessness in Asia is not only a humanitarian crisis but also a structural legal failure that transforms exile into silence, depriving individuals of identity, security, and dignity. The paper concludes by proposing region-sensitive policy reforms, including harmonised asylum processes, expanded legal pathways to protection, and stronger oversight mechanisms, underscoring the need for an Asian rights-based approach that operationalises non-refoulement and restores agency to forcibly displaced communities. Keywords: Refugees, Statelessness, Non-refoulement, Rohingya, Afghan refugees, Syrian refugees, Asia, Human Rights, Refugee Law, Protection Gap.
Biography
Myself Dr. Amrita Singh working as Associate Professor in Amity Law School, Amity University Mumbai. I have completed my undergraduation, post graduation and PhD from Department of Political Science, University of Allahabad. I have been into research and teaching since past 15 years especially in the areas of international relations and human rights.
