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What
is Legal Protection?
UNHCR London Legal Protection Unit
Who are we?
Contact Us
Internship Programme
Individual advice and representation
Responding to Policy
What is Legal Protection?
The
Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (‘UNHCR’)
was established on 14th December 1950 by the United Nations General
Assembly. The agency is mandated to lead and co-ordinate international
action to protect refugees and resolve refugee problems worldwide.
Its primary purpose is to safeguard the rights and well-being of
refugees. It strives to ensure that everyone can exercise the right
to seek asylum and find safe refuge in another State, with the option
to return home voluntarily, integrate locally or to resettle in
a third country.
International
protection of refugees is the core mandate of UNHCR, the basis for
which is set out in UNHCR’s
Statute and the 1951
Convention relating to the Status of Refugees. UNHCR works to
ensure that refugees are not returned to a place where they would
face persecution, that their basic rights are respected and that
long-term solutions for displaced people are identified. For more
general information about UNHCR and its activities world-wide, please
click here.
UNHCR London
The nature of UNHCR’s protection work varies from office to
office, depending on the country-specific situation and protection
concerns. In the UK, the role of the legal protection unit is that
of an advisor and monitor. It provides advice and positions
on refugee and asylum law and policy to the government, legal practitioners,
non-governmental organisations and many others. Where appropriate
UNHCR London takes up cases and raises issues of concern with our
counterparts in the UK Government. It intervenes in court
proceedings, which are precedent-setting for the international
protection of refugees generally. It also provides training on a
range of issues to those working with asylum seekers and refugees.
For
more information on how UNHCR London can help in the UK, click here.
Who Are We?
The legal protection unit is a small team of lawyers supported by
a dedicated team of highly qualified Legal Interns. For further
information on the UNHCR legal protection internship programme click
here.
Contact Us
The Office is open 9am – 5.30pm, Monday to Thursday, and 9am
– 3pm on Friday.
To call us see UNHCR
London’s general contact
details.
UNHCR
London emphasises the importance that you send your query with as
much notice as possible, preferably at least 3 weeks before a response
is required.
Legal Protection Internship Programme
The work of UNHCR's Legal Protection Unit internship programme is
an invaluable opportunity to gain first-hand experience with the
United Nation's unique refugee agency, while contributing to the
protection of asylum seekers and refugees. UNHCR London looks for
talented graduates with a legal background and a commitment to refugee
issues. Further
information.
Individual
advice and representation
UNHCR
does not provide legal advice or representation to asylum seekers
and refugees in the UK. This is due to the nature of its mandate,
limited resources and the wide availability and provision of legal
support in the UK.
Instead,
legal assistance and advice can be obtained from private solicitors
or through specialised agencies – many of whom can provide
their services free of charge, under the Legal Aid scheme
If
you require legal advice and representation, UNHCR would recommend
that you contact one of the following agencies:
For agencies that may be able to help please click here
You
may also wish to consult the following agencies for a list of private
solicitors/legal firms or agencies specialising in immigration and
asylum law:
Community
Legal Service Direct
0845 345 4 345 or http://www.clsdirect.org.uk
Immigration
Law Practitioners’ Association (‘ILPA’)
020 7251 8383 or http://www.ilpa.org.uk
Office
of the Immigration Services Commissioner (‘OISC’)
0845 000 0046 or http://www.oisc.gov.uk/
Law
Society
http://www.lawsociety.org.uk/choosingandusing/findasolicitor.law
Please
note UNHCR is not responsible for the content of external internet
sites listed here or cited elsewhere within this site
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