The Refugee Legal Clinic Project was initiated by UNHCR at the Faculty of Law, University of Belgrade, in June 2006. The Legal Clinic started its cooperation with Praxis in February 2007. At the beginning the cooperation was informal, but it became part of the Project as of January 1, 2008.
The Clinic started working in October 2006. Theoretical part of the project is conducted at the Law Faculty and the students have the opportunity to learn thoroughly about the fundamental international refugee protection, role of the state in that system, as well as about the mandate of UNHCR. An integral part of the theoretical training is to inform the students about the basic principles of work with refugees and asylum seekers, as well as with the procedure of determining refugee status.
Practical part of the training, concerning legal protection of refugees and internally displaced persons in Serbia, is conducted by Praxis, and includes both office and field work. Field work involves visits to the displaced in the collective centers, Roma settlements and private accommodation. Through practical work, students are enabled to better understand the theoretical part of the training by getting acquainted with the legal problems of the displaced, as well as administrative and systemic obstacles in access to basic human rights.