- We work globally with legal aid providers, refugee-led organisations, NGOs, community groups, academic institutions, and law firms to strengthen the provision of free-of-charge, high-quality legal advice and representation in refugee protection, and, ultimately, to further the rights of displaced people.
- We advance coordination, information sharing, and knowledge transfer, in particular among legal practitioners, in matters relating to forced migration and laws affecting refugees globally.
- We encourage networks of practitioners and experts to strengthen quality legal programming, develop and influence policies and practices, and advocate for change that advances justice for refugees.
Our Projects
Afghanistan: Legal Aid & Pathways, Information & Support
Deportation Monitoring Network
Coordination, Networks and Advocacy
AMERA International encourages networks of practitioners and experts to strengthen quality legal programming, develop and influence policies and practices, and advocate for change that advances justice for refugees. Currently AMERA coordinates with, among others: ECOSOC (through special consultative status), the International Council for Voluntary Agencies (ICVA), EuroMed Rights’ Migration and Asylum Working Group, the Global Strategic Litigation Council, the Grassroots Justice Network, and the Asia Pacific Refugee Rights Network (APRRN). AMERA currently Chairs APRRN’s Legal Aid & Advocacy Working Group.
AMERA is part of the Core Group of the Global Refugee Forum Legal Community Pledge. PILnet (leading the coordination) and the Pledge Core Group support the coordination, sustainability, and monitoring of the implementation of the Pledge, which aims to develop an integrated global legal community which centers the legal rights, skills, knowledge, and needs of refugees, stateless people, and other forcibly displaced people.
PILnet and the Core Group launched a 2023 Legal Community Pledge for the 2023 Global Refugee Forum, aiming to increase legal assistance for and with refugees, asylum-seekers, stateless people, and internally and other displaced people and to advance systemic change to facilitate access to rights, justice and solutions.
Learn more about this multi-stakeholder pledging initiative by reading the Pledge Framework and develop your own pledge by reviewing this Pledging Guidance. The Pledge opened for signature on September 1.
AMERA coordinates with organisations to assess legal aid needs and opportunities. We are also able to advise organisations looking to develop strategies for refugee-related programming.
As an example, in 2022 AMERA consulted for the International Refugee Assistance Project (IRAP) to support their work assessing legal aid and advocacy programming and partnership opportunities in Africa.
Case management systems and databases strengthen capacity for legal representation, coordinate services, and enhance monitoring and reporting. We can be contacted by organisations interested in learning about case management systems. We can advise and can connect with relevant systems providers.
Learn about one available case management system, the Refugee Information Processing System (RIPS) here.
AMERA International pursues projects and collaboration with like-minded organisations to develop quality legal aid provisions. If you are interested in discussing potential partnerships or need information, advice or assistance please contact us.