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Celebrating World Refugee Day

6-22-2011

By Refugee Protection Program

Click to view the photo exhibit.

As the world marks World Refugee Day this week, Human Rights First would like to extend a special thanks to the volunteer lawyers who work with us, on a pro bono basis, to provide legal representation to refugees who cannot afford to pay for legal counsel in their asylum and immigration court proceedings.  Their volunteer work – and the commitment of the law firms they work for – helps to ensure not only that indigent individuals receive legal representation but also that refugees are not returned to places where they face persecution and can begin to rebuild their lives in safety in the United States.

The inspiring story of one of Human Rights First’s former clients – a woman who fled brutal persecution in the Democratic Republic of Congo – is profiled by Petra Cahill of MSN.com in a piece that is timed to coincide with World Refugee Day this week.  The woman profiled in this story was represented by dedicated pro bono attorneys at the law firms of Kramer Levin Naftalis & Frankel LLP and Weil, Gotshal & Manges LLP.

Human Rights First is also honored to partner with other groups in developing a photo exhibit that honors both refugees and the people in this country who work with them.  To learn more about this celebration of service and see the photo exhibit.


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  • Emily

    Stories of refugees really touch my heart. It’s hard to imagine oppression of that level. Of course it still exists in America, I actually just read a book called Blind: A Memoir by Belo Cipriani. He was assaulted and blinded by his childhood friends for being gay, which just goes to show that nowhere is free from hate crime. I’m glad that refugees have a better life here, and I really look forward to hearing their stories.