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The goal of the “Know your Rights” initiative is to help Ukrainian refugees start new lives in Hungary
Law firm DLA Piper Hungary and UNHCR, the UN Refugee Agency, launched a series of legal education programmes in November in Budapest, for people who have been forced to flee from Ukraine, in order to inform them about their rights and obligations, as well as opportunities in the country.
DLA Piper first started its “Know your Rights” programme earlier this year for Ukrainian refugees in France, as part of a global partnership with UNHCR. The goal of the initiative is to provide clear information on the legal systems of host countries to help refugees integrate into local communities and represent their interests. DLA Piper’s Budapest office has now also joined the programme by organising pro-bono, multi-lingual in-person and online seminars in cooperation with UNHCR.
During the programme, experts of DLA Piper Hungary and UNHCR, together with representatives of the Self-Education Organisation of Law Students (JÖSz) discussed issues related to the legal status of people coming from Ukraine, with a special focus on the Temporary Protection status. They also provided general information on regulations related to employment, opportunities for setting up new businesses, tax, healthcare and education systems.
“In accordance with DLA Piper’s corporate social responsibility strategy, we have been supporting local social groups, non-governmental organisations or families in need in Hungary. Our “Know Your Rights” initiative launched in Hungary in cooperation with the UN Refugee Agency has not reached its end. We are determined to continue to help those Ukrainian refugees who want to settle in Hungary,” said Mónika Horváth, DLA Piper Hungary Partner for Pro Bono Activities.
In March 2022, the European Union voted unanimously to activate the Temporary Protection Directive for the first time, in order to provide immediate protection in the EU for those fleeing Ukraine. Hungary was among the first countries to introduce Temporary Protection status. It has been granting Temporary Protection and providing support to people arriving to the country since the beginning of the war in Ukraine, with over 32,000 applications to date.
“For anyone forced to flee, access to information is crucial to navigating when coming to a new country, finding support and ensuring his or her legal rights. Through this programme with DLA Piper Hungary, we seek to support the inclusion of refugees arriving from Ukraine, and to share recommendations with participants that can be useful in their daily lives. UNHCR is delighted to cooperate with DLA Piper Hungary and continues to seek opportunities for collaboration with Hungarian lawyers” – said Roland Schilling, UNHCR Representative for Central Europe.
In June 2022, DLA Piper announced a three-year global partnership with UNHCR, through its UK National Partner, UK for UNHCR. DLA Piper will provide expertise and funding in support of some of UNHCR’s most innovative work. The firm has already provided pro bono legal support valued at over $3 million to UNHCR and, through this partnership, has pledged further pro bono support worth over $3.7 million over the next three years.
Further information about various forms of support and opportunities is available on UNHCR’s online Help site (https://help.unhcr.org/hungary), while refugees may also call the UNHCR refugee help line free of charge from Monday to Friday between 8.00 am and 17.00 pm, at: +36 80 984 583
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