Civil Rights Program - Kosovo (CRP/K)

The Civil Rights Program Kosovo (CRP/K), with the support of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees in Kosovo (UNHCR), and in collaboration with Agency for Free Legal Aid (AFLA), organized two training sessions in Prishtine/Pristina and Gjakovë/Ðakova regions for over 20 AFLA legal officers on Asylum and refugee protection.
The training provided an overview of Refugee Status Determination procedures including the use of country-of-origin information, assessment of credibility criteria followed by protection and procedural safeguards. Legal officers from AFLA had an opportunity to obtain practical knowledge in dealing with asylum claims by identifying key legal protection elements and credibility criteria toward granting a refugee status. They have been also familiarized how to access, initiate and represent an asylum seeker throughout the asylum procedure in Kosovo.
This activity within the European Commission-funded regional programme “EU Regional Support to Protection-Sensitive Migration Management Systems in the Western Balkans – Phase III” is implemented by the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), European Union Agency for Asylum (EUAA), the European Border and Coast Guard Agency (Frontex) and the International Organization for Migration (IOM).
Kosovo Team Kosovo

📚 Learning by Doing – Legal Clinic Simulations
As part of the practical phase of the Legal Clinic programme, students actively engaged in simulation exercises on Refugee Status Determination (RSD) and Statelessness Status Determination procedures.
Through role-play scenarios, students assumed the roles of asylum officers, legal representatives, and applicants, allowing them to experience firsthand how international protection procedures are conducted in practice. 🧑‍⚖️👥
The simulations helped students strengthen key professional skills such as interviewing techniques, legal reasoning, credibility assessment, and decision-making in line with international protection standards. By applying theory to realistic case scenarios, students gained a deeper understanding of the safeguards and responsibilities involved in asylum and statelessness procedures. 🌍✨
The Legal Clinic is implemented with the support of the European Commission IPA III Regional Programme “EU Regional Support to Protection-Sensitive Migration Management Systems in the Western Balkans.”

🚀 Experiencing the Asylum System in Practice
Following the theoretical lectures of the Legal Clinic programme, students of the Faculty of Law at Kadri Zeka University in Gjilan/Gnjilane continued their learning journey through a study visit to the Asylum Center in Magure.
Seventeen students participating in the Legal Clinic had the opportunity to gain firsthand insight into the functioning of the asylum system, exploring reception conditions, daily operations, and the support services provided to persons seeking international protection. 🏢👥
The visit allowed students to connect classroom knowledge with real institutional practice, offering a deeper understanding of how protection standards are applied in reality and how Asylum Center respond to the needs of asylum seekers.
🙏 A special thank you goes to Mr. Fitim Zariqi, Head of the Asylum Center, for making this visit possible and for enabling students to closely observe reception conditions and operational practices of the Centre.
👏 We also extend our sincere appreciation to the students of Kadri Zeka University for their strong interest, active engagement, and enthusiasm shown throughout this activity.
The Legal Clinic is implemented with the support of the European Commission IPA III Regional Programme “EU Regional Support to Protection-Sensitive Migration Management Systems in the Western Balkans.”