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History of asylum and Ofpra
The first international refugee status was created following World War I (1914-18), and Ofpra has been protecting refugees and stateless persons since 1952.
We invite you to follow this journey on our historical timeline!
This chronology focuses on the history of the refugee status in France during the 20th and 21st centuries. It summarises the main texts adopted by France, the international and national institutions created for the protection of refugees, and the nationalities making the most frequent asylum requests, as well as the major events which have played a key role in these applications. It is important to note that there is not always a correlation between the rate of applications and an historic event.
Discover the 1990s
1990's
Année
1990
Paragraphes
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Signature of the Convention implementing the terms of the Schengen Agreement: abolition of internal borders, and reinforcement of external borders (land, sea and airport borders) to ensure the safety of citizens within a free movement area.
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Yugoslavian wars (1991-1999), the bloodiest wars in Europe since the end of World War II.
Main nationality of asylum seekers: ex-Yugoslavs.
Otocac, border between Bosnia and Croatia. Arrival of Croatian prisoners who have just been exchanged for Serb prisoners.
Collapse of the URSS, the end of the Eastern European communist regimes.
Civil wars in Algeria and Somalia.
These violent conflicts lead to new requests for protection but also discussions on the limits of the protections which had until now been permitted by the rulings of the Refugee Appeals Board and Ofpra doctrine: the impossibility of protecting people fleeing from a situation of widespread violence or from persecution which did not come from public authorities and for which they are unable to offer protection.
Année
1994
Paragraphes
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Genocide of the Tutsi in Rwanda (April-July 1994).
Rwanda/Zaire border. A mother is reunited with her daughter and the woman who has looked after her.
In 1994 and 1995 asylum requests from Algerians are the second most numerous.
Année
1997
Paragraphes
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Signature of the Treaty of Amsterdam which modifies the treaty instituting the European Community (EC treaty) and the Treaty on European Union (the Maastricht Treaty, or the EU treaty).
Its aim being to create a “area of freedom, security and justice”, the decisions concerning the right to asylum and border controls at the external borders of the European Union would henceforth have to follow the Community method rather than the intergovernmental method.
Clashes in Zaïre after Laurent Désiré Kabila’s rebels seize power.
Civil war between 1993 and 1999 in Congo-Brazzaville
Année
1998
Paragraphes
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The law of 11 May 1998, known as the Chevènement Law, states that the ability to grant asylum is based on two pillars of the Geneva Convention: constitutional asylum and territorial asylum. This text allows Yugoslav and Algerian exiles to benefit from protection under the Geneva Convention due to the rulings and doctrine on the authors and reasons for persecution.
