Legal assistance and counseling for asylum seekers
Target group: asylum seekers and beneficiaries of international protection whose cases have been reassessed or who have applied for family reunification
Goal: providing information on the asylum procedure, rights and obligations within the procedure, legal remedies, and appeals
Activities: legal counseling and assistance, training of specialists in the field, translation and interpretation, consultation and preparation
Duration: 2009 - 2027
1. About the project
Title: Specialized Legal Assistance and Counseling for Asylum Seekers and Beneficiaries of International Protection in Romania
Brief description: Through these projects, we provide individualized legal counseling and assistance to asylum seekers. We also support beneficiaries of international protection whose cases have been reassessed or who have applied for family reunification.
Implementation period: The projects have been implemented annually since 2009 and will continue until 2027, as follows:
2009 - 2014 - funded by the European Refugee Fund
2014 - 2020 and 2021 - 2027 - In partnership with the General Inspectorate for Immigration, funded by the Asylum, Migration, and Integration Fund (AMIF) through the project Specialized Legal Assistance for Asylum Seekers in Romania
Our goals: Throughout the implementation periods, our objectives have been:
informing asylum seekers about the asylum procedure and their rights and obligations within it
facilitating their access to all legal remedies, ensuring that the asylum procedure is conducted lawfully, with full respect for all legal safeguards
Through these projects, we have strengthened our network of specialized lawyers and interpreters and fostered ongoing dialogue between the authorities responsible for international protection.
2. How?
Legal Counseling and Assistance: We provide legal counseling and assistance in both the administrative and judicial phases of the asylum procedure. Specifically, we offer support by:
explaining the asylum procedure
assisting in drafting procedural documents
supporting applicants during the interview for determining a form of protection in front of the General Inspectorate for Immigration
preparing and submitting appeals for asylum seekers or beneficiaries of international protection whose cases have been reassessed
providing legal representation in court through specialized lawyers for vulnerable asylum seekers and beneficiaries of international protection
ensuring access to country-of-origin information for all actors involved in the asylum procedure
Training Specialists: We provide training for counselors and lawyers offering legal assistance, as well as interpreters and designated representatives assisting unaccompanied minors in the asylum procedure.
Translation and Interpretation: We provide interpretation services to facilitate communication with asylum seekers, as well as translation of documents required for court files.
Consultation and Preparation: We issue recommendations during the public consultation processes and thematic meetings we organize. These events involve experts from the General Inspectorate for Immigration - Asylum and Integration Directorate, legal counselors, magistrates, and other relevant parties working with asylum seekers/beneficiaries of international protection.
3. What have we Achieved?
Annually, CNRR has assisted over 70% of asylum seekers who received a rejection decision.
4. Partners
5. Funding Source
The European Union through the National Program of the Asylum, Migration, and Integration Fund (AMIF) and the General Inspectorate for Immigration, European Refugee Fund.