In recent times, the UNHCR has been accused of railing in the fulfilment of its mandate as
provided for under its statute. However, the entirety of fault is not to be borne by the UNHCR,
owing to the fact that the Agency relies on laws drafted for a different time. The main aim of
this research is to investigate whether there is a need for reform of the international refugee
law regime. The objects of the study were to distinguish the circumstances that led to the
formation of the 1951 Convention from the prevailing circumstances and to establish the role
of the UNHCR in the enforcement and development of international refugee law, in a bid to
determine the applicability or the existent laws to the modern refugee crisis.