A total of 60 students successfully attended a two-week online course designed to expand their knowledge and understanding of international refugee law principles and practice. These students were from law faculties from the University of Bihać, University in Istočno Sarajevo, University of Sarajevo, University Džemal Bijedić in Mostar, University of Mostar and University of Tuzla.
This rare opportunity for students from several universities across Bosnia and Herzegovina to come together over a topic of national and international importance was made possible through a formal cooperation between UNHCR, the UN Refugee Agency, and six universities. On the occasion of the kick-off online meeting with representatives of law faculties involved in the project, UNHCR Representative in BiH, Lucie Gagné said, “I sincerely thank the deans and engaged professors from Bihać, Istočno Sarajevo, Mostar, Sarajevo and Tuzla for bringing together interested law students in an opportunity to get acquainted with the field of refugee law and potential opportunities for further training and professional development”.
UNHCR’s Refugee Law Clinic has been conducted by UNHCR in BiH for more than a decade in cooperation with the Law Faculty of several public universities. The COVID-19 restrictions gave UNHCR a chance to innovate a new concept –bringing students from several universities across BiH together for online lectures, discussions and allowing them to engage and exchange on the issue. is the subject is particularly relevant for the law students, given the current challenges of mixed movement of refugees and migrants in BiH and discussions in local and regional media. Stephanie Woldenberg, UNHCR Senior Protection Officer said, “It is a pleasure to introduce law students the topic of international protection – as well as the global problem of statelessness. We do this by presenting the international legal instruments and national legislation and relating it to concrete examples from practice. UNHCR’s goal in supporting these clinics is to provide the students with a chance to explore this area of international law, and individuals with diverse professional experiences”.
The 1951 Convention relating to the Status of Refugees is the foundation of international refugee law. It defines the term “refugee”, establishes the principle that refugees should not be forcibly returned to a territory where their lives or freedom would be threatened, and sets out the duties of refugees and States’ responsibilities toward them. This year the clinic’s lecturers were also enlisted from the BiH Ministry of Security’s Sector for Asylum, Vaša Prava BiH which is a UNHCR partner providing free legal aid to asylum-seekers in BiH and Nedim Kulenović from the Registry of European Court of Human Rights, a BiH national working on topics of asylum in Strasbourg.
The two-week programme was adjusted to fulfil student’s core obligations and account for restrictions of online teaching. Nevertheless, students had the opportunity to learn about the 1951 Convention and 1967 Protocol, which were explained by UNHCR experts whose core mandate stems from this valuable international document. They learned about practical implementation of the Convention and Protocol in Bosnia and Herzegovina’s legislation from an RSD official in the BiH Ministry of Security’s Sector for Asylum expert, as well as Vaša Prava lawyers who provide free legal aid to asylum-seekers. Students from six BiH universities now also have a better understanding of the negative decision appeals process, the alignment of BiH Law on Asylum and the EU Acquis.
UNHCR Associate Protection Officer, Jae lk Jang took part in a session pertaining to the issue of rights and obligations of refugees under the 1951 Convention and said, “It was indeed a great experience to (virtually) meet several law students who may well end up being part of the actual implementation of the law in the future. As it was clear during the lecture, refugees’ access to their Convention rights requires continuous efforts by many stakeholders from different sectors in BiH, including various government institutions and civil society sectors”.
Vivian Savoye, UNHCR Associate Protection Officer, was one of the lecturers during the training. “It is very satisfying to see that our educational programme has been meeting a real demand from students. While exchanging with them, we clearly see they have a great interest in the subject, both as law students and as citizens of a country which is facing serious challenges in this area. The awareness-raising aspect of the Refugee Law Clinic is pivotal from that aspect”.
At the final session reviewing the exchange of knowledge and skills, many students were satisfied with the Clinic’s concepts and topics, especially in light of the country’s recent history, but also because of the current mixed movement in BiH, during which lines may be blurred by human suffering and the need for basic human rights.
Their teachers were satisfied too. Goran Marković, the Dean of the Pale Law Faculty of the Istočno Sarajevo University expressed satisfaction with the University’s long-standing cooperation with UNHCR in the implementation of the Clinic and stated, “the programme was attended by dozens of our students who gained valuable knowledge, while the Clinic’s concept also ensures attainment of practical legal skills”. Refugee Law Clinic Coordinator for Law Faculty of the Sarajevo University, Damir Banović, agrees on both accounts and reiterates that, “the clinical education provided by the UN Refugee Agency and Vaša Prava BiH substantially increased the knowledge and practical skills of students in the area of International Refugee Law”.
Amina Memić, Law student of the “Džemal Bijedić” University in Mostar attended several online courses so far and found this one very interesting but said, “I hope soon we will be able to have similar clinics at the faculty premises”.
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