Words by Smiley Team
A multinational law firm with offices in more than 40 countries has announced a partnership with the UN Refugee Agency (UNHCR) that will work to develop innovative responses to the global refugee crisis.
During the first three years, DLA Piper will provide pro bono support worth over $3.7m and contribute financially to the agency’s global programmes.
The partnership has been developed in collaboration with UK for UNHCR, an organisation responsible for developing humanitarian partnerships with British corporations that support global relief efforts for refugees.
[Sign up here to receive a weekly dose of positive news in your inbox]
According to UNHCR, there are now more than 100 million people who have been forcibly displaced from their homes. The number of displaced people has increased every year over the past decade and now stands at the highest level since records began.
These levels of displacement represent a global humanitarian emergency. The impact is especially pronounced on children, who account for 30% of the world's population, but 42% of all forcibly displaced people.
DLA Piper has long-standing commitment to working to protect the rights of refugees, displaced people and those who are stateless, with a particular focus on supporting the most vulnerable groups, including women, children and LGBT+ people.
This partnership with UNHCR is an extension of this work and DLA Piper’s ongoing commitment to protecting and upholding the rights of displaced people.
Simon Levine, Global Co-CEO, DLA Piper, said: “We are honoured to enhance our partnership with UNHCR. This is a unique opportunity to contribute to the organisation’s work and, ultimately, support displaced people all over the world. The current crisis in Ukraine is just one example of why UNHCR’s work is so critical.
“Legal protections are especially important when people’s lives are uprooted and they face challenges such as lack of basic shelter, violence, exploitation and restrictions on freedom of movement. As part of this new phase of the partnership, we will be working with UNHCR to support a fairer, more effective system, to develop new approaches and to help foster inclusion as people rebuild their lives.”
Follow more news about companies giving back to people and the planet on LinkedIn.
