Refugee Law Initiative

21/11/2025

Join our community and connect with the research specialists, policy experts, fellows, and students that make the Refugee Law Initiative so unique. You’ll also tap into our unmatched global network of researchers and affiliates. Hear from RLI Director Prof David James Cantor https://rli.sas.ac.uk
School of Advanced Study - University of London
University of London

21/11/2025

18/11/2025

Developed in direct response to global demand, our online MA Refugee Protection and Forced Migration Studies was created by the Refugee Law Initiative to address the urgent need for advanced study in international refugee law and protection.

Why study the degree?

📈 Forced migration is a growing global phenomenon.
🌐 Professionals and students worldwide are seeking expert knowledge and skills to respond effectively.
🎓 This programme offers a rigorous, flexible learning experience, accessible from anywhere in the world.

Join a worldwide cohort of refugee protection professionals.

13/11/2025

There’s still time to register for this Online Evening Dialogue TOMORROW👇👇👇

'Ethical Futures in Research and Publishing: Centring Ethics, Access and Equality in Refugee Studies', 14 November 2025, Online via Zoom, 3pm-4:30pm UK time | 5pm-6:30pm Beirut time

This dialogue brings together scholars from the Refugee Survey Quarterly (RSQ) editorial board and leading voices in refugee and migration studies to discuss ethical approaches to research, publishing, and methodological practice from and within the Global South.

Speakers will address questions of equitable authorship, linguistic justice, the ethics of Al and editing tools, and the politics of publishing in systems often shaped by Northern institutions.

Co-Chairs:
- Dr Jasmin Lilian Diab (Director of the Institute for Migration Studies (IMS) at Lebanese University and RSQ editorial board member)
- Dr Nicholas Maple (Senior Lecturer at the Refugee Law Initiative, University of London and Co-Editor in Chef at the RSQ)

This online event is a collaboration between the Refugee Law Initiative, Institute for Migration Studies at the Lebanese American University and the Refugee Survey Quarterly Journal.

REGISTER HERE: https://rli.sas.ac.uk/events/ethical-futures-research-and-publishing-centring-ethics-access-and-equality-refugee-studies

12/11/2025

Use your country expertise to help inform asylum decisions - Train as an expert witness for asylum cases

Register now for the next Expert Witness Training Day on 5 December 2025 held in-person at the University of London. ONLY A FEW PLACES LEFT!

This one-day training covers all aspects of writing expert witness country reports in relation to asylum claims. It is a practical course that will be of great value to those who wish to use their research expertise to help inform these important decisions, while being remunerated for this work.

New registration deadline: 17 November 2025

Learn more and register here: https://rli.sas.ac.uk/study-us/short-courses/expert-witness-training

10/11/2025

Join us at our forthcoming seminar next month in London 👇👇👇

Irregular migration responses: small boats, return hubs and the future of the refugee regime, 9 December 2025, 6pm-7pm UK time, Room 349, Third Floor, Senate House, Malet Street, London WC1E 7HU

This session examines the implication for refugee protection of the increasingly prevalent and more extreme implementation of harsh measures against irregular migration – a concern that is driving political agendas in many countries. We look at what such measures – including offshoring, pushbacks, border closures, and criminalisation – tell us about the direction of travel politically, how they affect asylum-seekers who move in this manner, and the extent to which they are compatible with international law or have the potential to change or threaten it.

Speakers:

- Professor Elspeth Guild, Queen Mary University London

- Vicky Taylor, Border Criminologies/Oxford University

- Francesca Pizzutelli,Amnesty International, International Secretariat

- Professor Violeta Moreno-Lax, Hertie School and Queen Mary University of London

Free and open to all but booking is required: https://rli.sas.ac.uk/events/irregular-migration-responses-small-boats-return-hubs-and-future-refugee-regime

This seminar is part of the 16th International Refugee Law Seminar Series: The Future of Refugee Law.

10/11/2025

New on the blog: 'Bird’s Eye View Politics and the Invisibilization of Syrian Refugee Realities' by Marwan Issa, Research and Policy Advisor at Oxfam and a Non-Resident Fellow at Badil | The Alternative Policy Institute

This post is part of the 'Durable Disillusionment: (Ir)Relevance of Solutions in Protracted Crises' blog series that looks at the availability of durable solutions for Syrian refugees.

https://rli.blogs.sas.ac.uk/2025/09/30/birds-eye-view-politics-and-the-invisibilization-of-syrian-refugee-realities/

07/11/2025

Join us on 10 December 2025 from 1pm-2pm (UK time) for our live Human Rights Day webinar to learn more about our MA in Refugee Protection and Forced Migration Studies.

Hear directly from Programme Director, Dr Nicholas Maple, who will outline how the degree can give you the skills necessary for a successful career in refugee protection and humanitarian work, as well as answering your questions in our live Q&A session.

Register here: https://www.london.ac.uk/news-events/events/human-rights-refugee-protection-webinar



University of London

03/11/2025

Read this new piece in The Conversation by Professor Sarah Singer where she explains the logistical and legal issues that complicate removals.

https://theconversation.com/why-is-it-so-difficult-for-the-uk-to-deport-foreign-criminals-268625



School of Advanced Study - University of London
University of London

Under UK law, the home secretary has a duty to pursue removal of foreign national offenders.

02/11/2025

There's still time to register for this event THIS WEEK 👇👇👇

Funding crisis, UN reform and the future of humanitarian work, Thursday 6 November, 6pm-7pm, Bloomsbury Room, G35, Ground Floor, Senate House, Malet Street, London WC1E 7HU

https://rli.sas.ac.uk/events/funding-crisis-un-reform-and-future-humanitarian-work

Register now for our next seminar as part of the 16th International Refugee Law Series:

Funding crisis, UN reform and the future of humanitarian work, 6 November, 6pm-7pm, Bloomsbury Room, G35, Ground Floor, Senate House, Malet Street, London WC1E 7HU

This session analyses the impact of the funding crisis on humanitarian responses and the operation of agencies involved in situations of displacement and of the UN80 Reform process, which proposes merging the IOM and UNHCR, looking at what these means for humanitarian agencies and responses. This seminar asks what these two significant and intersecting changes mean for the future of refugee agencies and humanitarian organisations, how it might change their work on the ground, whether they signify a new world order, and – most importantly – what this means for people affected by displacement and/or in need of international protection.

Speakers on this topic will include:

- Dr Jeff Crisp, Refugee Studies Centre, University of Oxford
- Dr Angela Sherwood, Queen Mary University London
- Freddie Carver , Overseas Development Institute
- Hans-Joerg Strohmeyer, United Nations OCHA

The seminar will be followed by a drinks reception. This event is open to all and free to attend but booking is required.

https://rli.sas.ac.uk/events/funding-crisis-un-reform-and-future-humanitarian-work

02/11/2025

There's still time to register on this event THIS WEEK 👇👇👇

Funding crisis, UN reform and the future of humanitarian work, Thursday 6 November, 6pm-7pm, Bloomsbury Room, G35, Ground Floor, Senate House, Malet Street, London WC1E 7HU

https://rli.sas.ac.uk/events/funding-crisis-un-reform-and-future-humanitarian-work

Register now for our next seminar as part of the 16th International Refugee Law Series:

Funding crisis, UN reform and the future of humanitarian work, 6 November, 6pm-7pm, Bloomsbury Room, G35, Ground Floor, Senate House, Malet Street, London WC1E 7HU

This session analyses the impact of the funding crisis on humanitarian responses and the operation of agencies involved in situations of displacement and of the UN80 Reform process, which proposes merging the IOM and UNHCR, looking at what these means for humanitarian agencies and responses. This seminar asks what these two significant and intersecting changes mean for the future of refugee agencies and humanitarian organisations, how it might change their work on the ground, whether they signify a new world order, and – most importantly – what this means for people affected by displacement and/or in need of international protection.

Speakers on this topic will include:

- Dr Jeff Crisp, Refugee Studies Centre, University of Oxford
- Dr Angela Sherwood, Queen Mary University London
- Freddie Carver , Overseas Development Institute
- Hans-Joerg Strohmeyer, United Nations OCHA

The seminar will be followed by a drinks reception. This event is open to all and free to attend but booking is required.

https://rli.sas.ac.uk/events/funding-crisis-un-reform-and-future-humanitarian-work

22/10/2025

Use your country expertise to help inform asylum decisions - Train as an expert witness for asylum cases

Register now for the next Expert Witness Training Day on 5 December 2025 held in-person at the University of London!

This one-day training covers all aspects of writing expert witness country reports in relation to asylum claims. It is a practical course that will be of great value to those who wish to use their research expertise to help inform these important decisions, while being remunerated for this work.

Early bird rates available until 6 November - learn more and register here: https://rli.sas.ac.uk/study-us/short-courses/expert-witness-training