INTRODUCTION (By Guy S. Goodwin-Gill): "The 1951 Convention relating to the Status of Refugees, with just one ?amending? and updating Protocol adopted in 1967 (on which, see further below), is the central feature in today?s international regime of refugee protection, and some 144 States (out of a total United Nations membership of 192) have now ratified either one or both of these instruments (as of August 2008). The Convention, which entered into force in 1954, is by far the most widely ratified refugee treaty, and remains central also to the protection activities of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR)...".....PROCEDURAL HISTORY...DOCUMENTS...STATUS