(For more info. re. this announcement, please contact Mark Pallis
([log in to unmask]).)

ANNOUNCEMENT

Refugees have the right to legal representation during
the asylum determination process, but until recently,
for thousands of refugees in Egypt, professional legal
services have been almost non-existent. Egypt
guarantees the right to asylum in its constitution; it
has acceded to UN and the Organisation of African
Unity conventions on refugees. However, in Egypt, it
is the Office of the UN High Commissioner (UNHCR) who
determines who gets refugee status, not the Government
of Egypt. There is no independent appeal process
against negative decisions. There are more than 23
nationalities represented in Egypt's refugee
population.

In July 2000, the Forced Migration and Refugee Studies
programme at the American University in Cairo began to
address this deficiency.  It now provides formal
training in refugee law through courses that are part
of the Diploma in Forced Migration and Refugee Studies
and the MA in Human Rights Law, as well as 'hands on'
practical experience of preparing cases for refugees
seeking asylum in Egypt. Through these training
activities we aim to promote:

- The assistance of refugee clients in
preparing their testimony and to write legal briefs
based on international refugee and human rights law
for each case.
- The training of Egyptian lawyers and students
in refugee law and legal practice to take major
responsibility for providing legal aid.
- Advocating for the improvement of policies
and practices concerning refugees.
- The involvement of other Egyptian and Middle
Eastern NGOs in refugee-related work, and to provide
training to their staff.

There are now three centres which are actively
involved in providing legal aid: the Egyptian
Organisation for Human Rights (EOHR), which began
offering free legal advice to refugees in Cairo in
August 2001, the Centre of Studies and Human
Development Programmes, the Association for Human
Rights Legal Aid, and Musa'adeen (a refugee self-help
group situated at four locations in Cairo).

Lawyers and non-lawyers, undergraduates and
postgraduates, are encouraged to apply to work as
volunteers in these programmes. Volunteers take
testimonies, prepare legal arguments, collect country
of origin information, and represent clients who are
applying for refugee status or appealing against
rejection at UNHCR.  Volunteers are also urgently
needed to provide intensive English training in legal
vocabulary and writing skills. For information on how
to apply, see:
http://www.aucegypt.edu/schools/huss/fmrs/Affiliation_Opportunities/affiliat
ion_opportunities.html.

Contact: Mark Pallis ([log in to unmask])

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