Considerations on the legal evolution of the refugee concept

Abstract

In view of the call by the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) for Latin American States to recognize Venezuelan migrants as refugees, in accordance with the expanded definition contained in the Cartagena Declaration on Refugees (1984), it is necessary to review the evolution of the refugee concept and to take a closer look at the regulations that the most important regional systems for the protection of human rights have adopted on this legal concept. In this way, we will better understand the reasons that allow us to affirm that Venezuelan migrants should be recognized as refugees.