owing to a 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 their nationality , and is unable to or , owing to such fear , is unwilling to avail him\/herself of the protection of that country . Under the United Nations Convention Relating to the Status of Refugees of 1951 , a refugee is more narrowly defined ( in Article 1A ) as a person who `` owing to a 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 to or , owing to such fear , is unwilling to avail himself of the protection of that country '' .