The East African Centre for Forced Migration and Displacement is proud to announce that it has joined the GRF Legal Community Pledge .
Together, pledge signatories aim to put the power of the law to work to advance access to rights, justice and lasting solutions for displaced people globally. We join a network of legal professionals, refugee-led organizations, advocates and other allies to contribute our expertise, resources, and policy insights to increase legal assistance and create systemic change for and with refugees and other displaced people.
As part of our commitment, we will collaboratively support displaced people facing administrative barriers to obtaining documentation, navigating status determination procedures as well as those seeking to benefit from financial inclusion opportunities.
Our Two-Pillar Commitment
Our pledge, a strategic two-part approach, is designed to build on recent gains and ensure they translate into meaningful change:
- Integrated Legal Ecosystem
We pledge to support the establishment of an integrated legal ecosystem in the East and Horn of Africa that connects legal practitioners, law firms, and refugee-led organizations to collaboratively engage in refugee-related policy, advocacy, and legislative initiatives. We commit to advancing this ecosystem within the next two years, with a target of achieving concrete outcomes by 2027.
- Legal Assistance & Advocacy
We pledge to provide 400 hours annually of legal assistance to displaced persons, including direct support and collaboration with refugee-led and local legal initiatives. In addition, we will engage in strategic advocacy, support actors involved in strategic litigation, and work with policymakers across East Africa to advance systemic reforms in laws, policies, and practices that enhance refugees’ and displaced persons’ access to rights, justice, and meaningful socio-economic inclusion.
We hope to unlock regional & municipal frameworks, making them genuine pathways for social economic inclusion for displaced people, allowing them to rebuild their lives and enrich their host communities.