INTERPOL's 2017 Refugee Resolution provides a framework for balancing the safety of refugees with international police cooperation. Its official explanatory page states that, once a member country confirms a person's refugee status, INTERPOL will delete a Notice or Diffusion from the country where that person fears persecution. The scope of this statement must not be expanded into a promise about notices from unrelated countries or domestic records.
Distinguish the different legal statuses
| Situation | Key question for INTERPOL analysis |
|---|---|
| Recognised refugee status | Has the member country confirmed the grant, and is the notice from the feared country? |
| Asylum application pending | What legal protection exists at this stage? Does the 2017 refugee framework apply? |
| Subsidiary or complementary protection | What exact rights and non-refoulement protection follow from the decision? |
| Temporary residence | Is this merely an immigration permission or a status giving protection from return? |
| Refusal or revocation of asylum | Did the competent authority formally deny or withdraw the protection? |
Descriptions such as 'humanitarian visa' or 'temporary protection' can have different meanings under national law; do not assume equivalence with refugee status.
What the CCF may examine
The CCF is concerned with the processing of INTERPOL data. It may consider the relevant protection decision, the purpose of circulation, Article 2 and Article 3 questions, the nationality and status of the individual and the arguments of the source country. It cannot grant asylum, alter an immigration decision or bind a domestic extradition court to release a person.
An applicant should therefore coordinate with domestic asylum and extradition counsel where necessary. The CCF route is an additional data-protection issue, not a substitute for urgent national action.
Documents to prepare
| Document | Why it matters |
|---|---|
| Full protection-status decision | Shows the exact status, date, issuing authority and protection grounds |
| Confirmation of current validity | Addresses whether protection remains effective |
| Official record of the country of feared persecution | Helps connect the protection to the source of the challenged data |
| Arrest warrant and criminal allegations | Allows a comparison with the protection facts |
| Any extradition or removal decision | May contain findings on risk of return |
| Certified translations | Enables the CCF to evaluate the relevant language and legal terminology |
Recommended case review
- Verify the status with the issuing authority and review the full legal effect.
- Map the source of each Notice or Diffusion; not all data necessarily comes from the feared state.
- Evaluate whether the refugee policy, data purpose or human-rights grounds are engaged.
- Prepare a coherent factual submission through the CCF portal procedure.
- Coordinate separately on national asylum, detention and extradition remedies.
Frequently asked questions
Does a pending asylum claim automatically remove a Red Notice?
No. The status and applicable safeguards require case-specific analysis; a pending claim is not the same as confirmed refugee status.
What if the Red Notice was requested by a third country?
The refugee policy statement is specific to the country where the person fears persecution. A third-country request requires its own compliance assessment.
Can the CCF recognise me as a refugee?
No. Refugee recognition is a matter for competent national authorities. The CCF may consider relevant protection decisions when assessing data compliance.
Primary official sources: INTERPOL Refugee Resolution; CCF FAQ; CCF request procedure.