Legal assistance for Afghan refugees

An agreement on providing legal aid for refugees from Afghanistan, evacuated from Kabul thanks to the efforts of the University of Opole, was signed at the seat of the District Chamber of Legal Advisers (OIRP) on 13 October 2021.

The agreement, between the UO and the OIRP was signed by the rector of the UO, Professor Marek Masnyk, PhD, and the dean of the OIRP, Katarzyna Bisowska. The aid is to be provided by nine legal advisers for 15 people who, thanks to the efforts of the University of Opole, were brought from Kabul to Opole in August and who are now staying at the University's campus. Under the agreement, members of the District Chamber of Legal Advisers in Opole will provide legal assistance for refugees, consisting of help in settling their legal status and in ongoing legal issues with which refugees will turn to advisers.

“The Regional Chamber of Legal Advisers has declared its willingness to provide any legal assistance that will be necessary in dealing with many issues facing the Afghans," said Rector Masnyk. He underlined that the UO authorities were glad to have rescued the refugees, who had been taken care of and had already become part of the academic family.

“The help will be provided by legal advisers and trainees who have volunteered for this task,” stresses Katarzyna Bisowska, dean of the OIRP. “They can speak fluent English, so there will be no problems with communication. The counsellors will provide legal assistance mainly in settling the status of refugees. They will certainly help in many other matters, including everyday problems, if necessary," she assured.

The meeting was also attended by Joanna Maksymowicz-Szczepańska, Chair of the Human Rights Commission at the OIRP. “I think that Afghan refugees will need legal assistance when it comes to, for instance, understanding labour law or finding accommodation," she said. “For the time being, they probably do not realise that they will need this assistance. But there will come a time when they will face the Polish legal system and then the support of a competent person will be necessary. And they will get this support from us.”