Legal support and social events ensure a helping hand to refugees from Ukraine

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Legal support and social events ensure a helping hand to refugees from Ukraine

The Estonian Human Rights Centre is providing vital support to the many refugees from Ukraine who have arrived in Estonia since the war began.

21 December 2022 Also available in:

A group of refugees from Ukraine and local Estonians attend an event at the Oandu nature centre organized by the Estonian Human Rights Centre and the Social Centre of Tallinn City Centre © UNHCR/Max-Michel Kolijn

Following Russia's invasion of Ukraine in February, more than 40,000 Ukrainians have received temporary protection in Estonia - and UNHCR's partner, the Estonian Human Rights Centre (EHRC), has stepped up their activities to ensure legal and social support to the refugees.

They provide legal counseling, information and pursue strategic legal cases. In addition, the centre organizes events that allow refugees from Ukraine, as well as local Estonians, to get to know and support each other. Through the events, EHRC also receives information about challenges that the participants are faced with and can thereafter provide relevant support to address them.

“As a Ukrainian, I feel happy when I see people exchanging phone numbers after the event,” says Oleksandra Klokta, Community Coordinator at EHRC and herself a refugee from Ukraine. “They make friends at the event and move on without us.”

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