The Pledge
For the over 82 million people who have been forced to flee their homes and the millions more who are stateless today, even accessing the most basic of rights can be a challenge.
- The law is a key to unlock rights – such as education, employment, health care and freedom of movement.
- The law is a key to unlock justice – when refugees and others forcibly displaced have suffered harm or violations of their rights.
- The law is a key to unlock solutions – through the recognition of nationality, legal identity or protected status and the granting of legal pathways to protection for those at risk.
But many forcibly displaced people frequently live outside the protection of the law and cannot secure essential legal information and assistance to access rights, justice and solutions. To address this, over 100 legal and refugee rights organizations – including community empowerment organizations, law firms, bar associations, refugee law clinics, and corporations – have come together to collectively commit to increase access to justice for those displaced by joining the Global Refugee Forum Legal Community Pledge.
Among the commitments made, the private sector signatories to the Pledge committed to provide over 134,000 pro bono hours a year to support the legal needs of those forcibly displaced. PILnet, together with a Core Group of Non-Governmental Organizations (NGOs), support the coordination, sustainability and monitoring of the implementation of the Pledge.
Ukraine
In response to the Russian invasion of Ukraine, PILnet and its partners have developed and posted resources to support CSOs and individuals displaced or fleeing from their home countries.
Afghanistan
PILnet continues to mobilize, connect, and support the legal community in responding to the diverse legal needs of impacted Afghans. To help meet the urgent legal needs arising from the Afghanistan situation, contact us or take a look at the useful resources we have complied in collaboration with our partners.
'Seeing this community and presence here gives me hope.' - Najeeba Wazefadost, Asia Pacific Network of Refugee-led Organizations (APNOR), Urgent Consultation on Afghanistan
Get Help
Are you a local organization, refugee-led organization, or legal service provider that supports refugees and others forcibly displaced? PILnet can help you to find free legal help by matching your request with a suitable legal provider. Assistance is available for individual matters (referred via an organization), organizational matters, legal training, or legal research.
We only take requests from organizations working with refugees, refugee-led organizations, or legal service providers. We can only accept support for individual matters if these are referred via an organization.
Eligibility
Are you eligible for pro bono assistance? Check the flowchart outlining the legal help-seeking process.
Process Flowchart
Types of Assistance
Looking for ideas on what kind of legal assistance our network of pro bono lawyers can provide? Check out the menu.
Menu of Options
The Guide
Need more information? This Guide provides detailed information on project background, scope, and protocols, and more.
Matching Guide
Top Tips for Law Firms
How can law firms develop a successful pro bono project? Learn how to design and implement one with these Top Tips.
Top Tips
Tipos de Servicios
[En español] ¿Está buscando ideas sobre qué tipo de asistencia legal puede brindarle nuestra red de abogados pro bono? Consulta el menú.
Menú de servicios pro bonoJoin Us!
The Pledge remains open for legal and refugee rights actors to join. You can also sign up to our newsletter or get in touch to learn more about the Pledge and how you can join us to ensure greater access to justice for refugees and others forcibly displaced.
Despite the challenges presented by the onset of Covid-19, in 2020 and 2021 the actors that signed the GRF Community Legal Pledge effectively mobilized themselves in an unprecedented way to deliver essential legal services to refugees and others forcibly displaced and to work collectively to increase access to justice for refugees. The private sector signatories to the Pledge provided over 165,000 pro bono hours in 2020, exceeding their Pledged commitment by 30%.
For more information about the progress and impact of implementation of the Pledge, please read:
