The Concept of ‘Imminence’ in the International Protection of Refugees

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The project aims to contribute to the law on international protection by examining the concept of ‘imminence’. We are in an unprecedented era of international displacement; over 50 million people are on the move. While many are fleeing from traditional threats, such as conflict and persecution, some are leaving because they are scared of future risks – like the impacts of climate change. This creates new challenges for countries because traditional refugee frameworks are ill-suited to respond. The question this project asks is: if people cross a border to escape future harm, how ‘imminent’ does the harm need to be before another country has an obligation to protect them? Should international law protect only people who face the risk of immediate danger, or should it also protect those at risk of harm that may manifest more slowly over time?