Cooperation With UNHCR: Legal Clinic for Inclusivity

The course introduced students to the fundamental principles and legal frameworks of refugee protection and statelessness. Beyond the theoretical foundation, it offered practical insights into key areas such as anti-trafficking and inter-agency cooperation—highlighting the roles of UNHCR, other UN bodies, and civil society actors. Participants also gained hands-on skills in case management and counselling, preparing them to support affected populations through counselling, referrals, and paralegal assistance.

Present at the certificate awarding, Helena Behr (Legal Officer, UNHCR) and Zoltán Gábor Szűcs-Zágoni (Deputy Dean for International Affairs, Faculty of Social Sciences, ELTE) both stressed the importance of the continued cooperation and underlined that legal clinics like this equip future professionals to stand in solidarity with refugees through meaningful, informed action. Through joint efforts like the legal clinic, UNHCR and ELTE support a new generation of professionals who are equipped and inspired to shape a more inclusive future.

Ahead of #WorldRefugeeDay, UNHCR launched its 2024 Global Trends and Global Report, showing that forced displacement rose to 123.2 million by the end of 2024, with 129.9 million people under UNHCR’s mandate. These numbers, together with a decline in humanitarian aid, reflect crises that continue to unfold—and why action matters. Within this context, the course at ELTE marks an important opportunity for students to learn more about possible actions of solidarity and inclusivity.