European Migration Network

In the EU context and within the meaning of Article 1 A of the Geneva Convention, acts which must:
(a) be sufficiently serious by their nature or repetition as to constitute a severe violation of basic human rights, in particular the rights from which derogation cannot be made under Article 15(2) of the European Convention on Human Rights (ECHR); or
(b) be an accumulation of various measures, including violations of human rights which is sufficiently severe as to affect an individual in a similar manner as mentioned in (a).


In a global context, acts of human rights abuses or other serious harm, often, but not always, with a systematic or repetitive element.


Related Terms: Persecution, Actors of Persecution, Group Persecution


Notes:
Acts of persecution as qualified in the EU context above, can, inter alia, take the form of:
(a) acts of physical or mental violence, including acts of sexual violence;
(b) legal, administrative, police, and/or judicial measures which are in themselves discriminatory or which are implemented in a discriminatory manner;
(c) prosecution or punishment, which is disproportionate or discriminatory;
(d) denial of judicial redress resulting in a disproportionate or discriminatory punishment;
(e) prosecution or punishment for refusal to perform military service in a conflict, where performing military service would include crimes or acts falling under the exclusion clauses as set out in Article 12(2);
(f) acts of a gender-specific or child-specific nature.

Source:
Article 9 of Council Directive 2004/83/EC (Qualification Directive)

UNHCR Master Glossary of Terms