Building an accessible network for legal aid to displaced persons from Ukraine in Bulgaria and preventing and counteracting human trafficking

About this project

<p>The war in Ukraine has increased the number of asylum seekers, diversifying the regions where there are large numbers of refugees. The legal framework governing their situation has also changed: the activation of the Temporary Protection Directive confronts lawyers with the need to deal with new matter. Guaranteeing human rights requires professional commitment by lawyers at various points in the country. The aim of the project is to ensure the provision of affordable legal aid and to help respond quickly and effectively to the needs of persons displaced by the war in Ukraine. On the one hand, this will be guaranteed by the PHAR legal team, and on the other - by training new lawyers and building a mutual assistance network operating on the basis of common standards. The specific profile of the arrivals - vulnerable groups, easy victims for trafficking - suggests the need for prevention and countermeasures, in this particular case through an information campaign and legal assistance. If necessary, psychological support will also be provided. The lack of timely and accessible legal aid can further jeopardize the guarantee of human rights, in particular of persons displaced by the war in Ukraine, and the failure to identify the potential risks to the vulnerable persons of trafficking may turn them into victims. Therefore, the expected result is the guarantee of affordable legal aid for the direct users, namely the refugees, in compliance with all ethical standards and the prevention and counteraction of the potential risk of human trafficking.</p>