According to the 1951 Geneva Convention relating to the Status of Refugees, a refugee is… [a person who]… owing to well-founded fear of being persecuted for reasons of race, religion, nationality, membership of a particular social group or political opinion, is outside the country of his nationality and is unable or, owing to such fear, is unwilling to avail himself of the protection of that country; or who, not having a nationality and being outside the country of his former habitual residence as a result of such events, is unable or, owing to such fear, is unwilling to return to it.

Research Themes:

Role of Institutions in Refugee communities

Current research projects:

Publication listing community-based organizations in refugee communities in Jordan (their role, history, function, etc)
"Gaps in Service Provision in Palestinian Refugee Camps in Jordan and Lebanon"

Oral History

Training of researchers
Collecting accounts
Transcribing and indexing
Current project: a documentary film on Israeli massacres in Palestine in 1948

Human Rights and International Law

"The Palestinian Refugees' Right of Return and Compensation According to International Law", by Mohammad Saif, 2003

Current research project : " Israel's Responsibility under International Law vis-à-vis the Palestinian Refugees"

Vulnerability

Current research projects:

"Vulnerability in Refugee Communities"
"Health Status of Women and Children in Palestinian Refugee Camps in Jordan"
"Feminization of the Labour Market in Refugee Camps in Jordan – the case of the QIZ"

Socioeconomic Patterns in Refugee Communities

Current research projects:

"Social Capital and the Effect of Reform on Poverty: Jordan Perspective with a Focus on Camps and Squatter Areas"
"Unemployment in Refugee Communities in Jordan"

Other Research Themes

Current research projects:

"The Space in Palestinian Refugee Narrative"