The 1951 Convention relating to the Status of Refugees and its 1967 Protocol have served as the central instruments underpinning the international refugee protection regime for 60 years. Together with its 1967 Protocol, the Convention provides a universal code for the treatment of refugees uprooted from their countries as a result of persecution, violent conflict, serious human rights violations or other forms of serious harm. The Convention covers persons fleeing a wide range of socio-political events. It is also sufficiently flexible and allows for age, gender and diversity sensitive interpretations. As illustrated in this third edition of the handbook and guidelines, legislative and jurisprudential developments over the past decades have led to a greater understanding of refugee claims in many existing and emerging areas.