The 1951 Convention Relating to the Status of Refugees considers as such people who suffer persecution for reasons of race, religion, nationality, membership of a particular social group or political opinions. As a consequence of this situation, refugees are outside the country of their nationality and cannot, or do not want to, avail themselves of its protection. They do not even wish to return to it for fear of retaliation. Instead, they flee to neighboring countries to request asylum or are forced into a situation of forced illegality because no one grants them that right.