The Syrian Refugee Crisis: Refugees, Conflict, and International Law

This research paper is the result of a collaboration between DPI and Al Marsad, an independent human rights organisation with a history of engagement with refugee issues, and with whom this research paper was co-written. The paper seeks to provide readers with a comprehensive understanding of the current refugee movement crisis with a specific focus on conflict resolution, examining both the likelihood of conflict occurring, and outlining avenues in which this may be addressed. The relevant international legal frameworks, academic understandings of the relationship between refugees and conflict, and past historical precedents are provided, along with a clear overview of the refugee situation in Lebanon, Jordan, and Turkey, which draws directly from the testimonies of Syrian refugees themselves. In particular, this paper explores how the dual needs of securing security and the human rights of refugees can be met together.