Attachments
UNHCR LEGAL AID PROGRAMME
• Through its NGO partners Bangladesh Rural Advancement Committee (BRAC) and Bangladesh Legal Aid and Services Trust (BLAST), UNHCR provides free legal services to refugees across 33 camps in Cox’s Bazar and in Bhasan Char. Services include legal information/awareness, legal counselling, legal representation by lawyers, mediation support, and facilitation of prison visits to detained family members. Legal services are delivered through 72 camp-based lawyers, supported by 72 refugee paralegal volunteers.
• Between January and March, 6,167 refugees (58% women and girls) benefitted from legal assistance services in the camps. BRAC and BLAST assisted 37 refugees to file legal complaints in police stations and courts, after obtaining prior authorization from the government camp administrators. In addition, 320 refugees were supported in legal proceedings in court. Most of the legal assistance provided concerned cases where refugees were victims of killing, physical assault, sexual violence, abduction/kidnapping, and arrest outside the camps (owing movement restrictions placed on refugees).
• 37 refugees found to be outside the camps and detained were released upon advocacy efforts and legal intervention by UNHCR’s partners, which also continued to provide assistance and intervene in cases of refugees in detention linked to illegal entry or stay who were found to be in violation of Section 14 of the Bangladeshi Foreigners Act. Of these individuals, 28 were released following intervention by UNHCR’s partner. A total of 244 arrest incidents were reported by UNHCR and partners in January-March 2023. The main reasons for arrest were unauthorized movement and criminal acts (e.g., drug-related), while criminal law problems primarily related to murder, drugs, robbery and arms, theft, assault and sexual violence. A number of cases were more serious charges such as murder and higher level drugs charges.
• In January-March, 7.553 refugees (2,795 women, 83 girls, 4,460 men, 215 boys) were reached through legal awareness raising sessions in 33 camps and in Bhasan Char. Topics covered included legal procedures and remedies on human trafficking, abduction/kidnapping, physical assault, gender-based violence, detention and arrest and family and financial disputes.
• As refugees do not have access to the formal civil justice system (civil and family courts), legal partners also provide mediation support as an alternative dispute resolution mechanism to amicably settle disputes involving refugees on family, financial and civil matters. Between January - March, 1,036 cases were referred to legal partners for mediation, of which 804 were successfully resolved.
• As part of its engagement on capacity building and advocacy with the judiciary to facilitate access to justice for refugees, UNHCR provided support (including office furniture and equipment) to the District Legal Aid Office in Cox’s Bazar to establish a mediation room in the District Judge’s Court. The mediation room is used to receive cases and provide free legal aid to vulnerable/destitute individuals, including for resolution of disputes. The new mediation room was inaugurated on 12 March by the District Judge and District Legal Aid Officer with the presence of UNHCR, and judges and magistrates of the Cox’s Bazar District Court.
• UNHCR organized two trainings for BRAC and BLAST staff to continue building their capacities to provide legal assistance.