Refugee Law Initiative

30/03/2026

New on the podcast 👉 Is AI a future panacea or problem for refugee law?

On 18 March 2026, we hosted a seminar on artificial intelligence and whether it has the potential to improve efficiency and accuracy in workflows in relation to refugee law.

Some of the questions asked:
- What role can or should AI have in the processing and assessment of asylum claims?
- Could it be a panacea for making the assessment of claims more efficient, for clearing backlogs, or getting decisions ‘right first time’?
- What inherent problems might AI present for legal obligations in the processing of claims or in age verification?
- Does ‘responsible implementation’ have the capacity to genuinely prevent these?

Listen here: https://rli.sas.ac.uk/news-events/videos-podcasts/ai-future-panacea-problem-refugee-law

23/03/2026

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

Register before 15 June for the next Expert Witness Training Day on 22 June 2026 held in-person at the University of London.

Early bird rates if you book before 30 April!

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.

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

16/03/2026

A couple of days left until our last seminar of our annual series:

Is AI a future panacea or problem for refugee law? 18 March, 6pm-7pm, Room 349, Third Floor, Senate House, Malet Street, London WC1E 7HU

https://rli.sas.ac.uk/news-events/events/ai-future-panacea-problem-refugee-law

Join us NEXT WEEK for this IN-PERSON seminar:

Is AI a future panacea or problem for refugee law?, 18 March 2026, 6pm-7pm, Room 349, Senate House, University of London

https://rli.sas.ac.uk/news-events/events/ai-future-panacea-problem-refugee-law

This session asks what role can or should AI have in the processing and assessment of asylum claims? Could it be a panacea for making the assessment of claims more efficient, for clearing backlogs, or getting decisions ‘right first time’? What inherent problems might AI present for legal obligations in the processing of claims or in age verification? Does ‘responsible implementation’ have the capacity to genuinely prevent these?

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

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

13/03/2026

Join us NEXT WEEK for this IN-PERSON seminar:

Is AI a future panacea or problem for refugee law?, 18 March 2026, 6pm-7pm, Room 349, Senate House, University of London

https://rli.sas.ac.uk/news-events/events/ai-future-panacea-problem-refugee-law

This session asks what role can or should AI have in the processing and assessment of asylum claims? Could it be a panacea for making the assessment of claims more efficient, for clearing backlogs, or getting decisions ‘right first time’? What inherent problems might AI present for legal obligations in the processing of claims or in age verification? Does ‘responsible implementation’ have the capacity to genuinely prevent these?

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

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

09/03/2026

Thank you to the excellent group of global participants who joined us last week on our Research Methods short course!

This intensive 5-day course covered training on the rigours and ethical research in the forced migration context. And we're already looking forward to the next iteration in March 2027 - applications will open in late 2026 so watch this space!

https://rli.sas.ac.uk/study-us/short-courses/research-methods-refugee-forced-migration-field

06/03/2026

We are pleased to announce the publication of the edited collection 'Landmark Cases in International Refugee Protection: International Jurisprudence on the Rights of Refugees', edited by Professor Sarah Singer and Professor Kirsten McConnachie.

This collection examines key judicial decisions that have shaped the law of asylum and refugee protection. Each chapter analyses a single judicial decision and locates it in a wider legal, political and policy context, tracing its subsequent impact on refugee law and policy.

Featuring contributions from leading academics and practitioners in refugee and human rights law from a range of jurisdictions, the book offers compelling insights for anyone with an interest in international refugee protection, human rights, and the development of international refugee law

Read more here: https://www.bloomsbury.com/uk/landmark-cases-in-international-refugee-protection-9781509981335/

This volume examines judicial decisions that have shaped the law of asylum and refugee protection.Each chapter analyses a single judicial decision and locates i…

04/03/2026

📰 Read our latest monthly update with news on research, activities and upcoming events at the RLI 📰

March 2026 update: https://mailchi.mp/london/refugee-law-initiative-march2026

And subscribe here: https://shorturl.at/M8qfM

25/02/2026

Join us on 18 March 2026 for this IN-PERSON seminar:

Is AI a future panacea or problem for refugee law?, 18 March 2026, 6pm-7pm, Room 349, Senate House, University of London

https://rli.sas.ac.uk/news-events/events/ai-future-panacea-problem-refugee-law

This session asks what role can or should AI have in the processing and assessment of asylum claims? Could it be a panacea for making the assessment of claims more efficient, for clearing backlogs, or getting decisions ‘right first time’? What inherent problems might AI present for legal obligations in the processing of claims or in age verification? Does ‘responsible implementation’ have the capacity to genuinely prevent these?

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

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

12/02/2026

New on the podcast 👉 Non-refoulement: legal issues around the return of refugees

On 10 February 2026, we hosted a seminar on non-refoulement obligations in light of UK Supreme Court AAA (Rwanda) and the ICJ Advisory Opinion on Climate Change.

Some of the questions asked:

- Is non-refoulement a norm of customary international law following the ambiguity left by the Supreme Court in the Rwanda litigation (AAA v Rwanda)?

- What is the relationship between treaty based non-refoulement obligations and non-refoulement as custom? How should obligations be interpreted?

- What is the approach to the matter taken by the ICJ in its Advisory Opinion on Obligations of States in Respect of Climate Change?

Listen here: https://rli.sas.ac.uk/news-events/videos-podcasts/non-refoulement-legal-issues-around-return-refugees

11/02/2026

New on the podcast from the 16th International Refugee Law Seminar Series: The Future of Refugee Law.

▶️ The Refugee Convention in a hostile world, 29 January 2026

Our seminar speakers asked the following questions: What do current trends mean for the Refugee Convention’s future, globally and in particular regions and countries? In an increasingly multi-polar world, how would issues like refugee flows be addressed? Does the Convention have a role to play in that regard and, if so, what is it? Would other legal or policy approaches?

Listen here: https://rli.sas.ac.uk/news-events/videos-podcasts/refugee-convention-hostile-world

11/02/2026

The is delighted to welcome Dr Maria Lorena Suarez Ostos as our newest Research Fellow.

Dr Suárez Ostos is a senior specialist in refugee and human rights law with two decades of UNHCR, the UN Refugee Agency experience. Her work integrates doctrinal analysis with evidence‑based protection strategies adopted by governments and international bodies. As a Visiting Fellow, she examines asylum systems and state responsibility in comparative perspective, with a focus on the normative and operational implications.

Learn more here: https://rli.sas.ac.uk/people/dr-maria-lorena-suarez-ostos

09/02/2026

The is delighted to welcome Rebecca Thompson as a Research Fellow. Rebecca Thompson is a researcher and policy advisor specialising in humanitarian reform, stabilisation, conflict governance, and political economy. Her current work focuses on power dynamics within the international aid system, and the use of frontier technologies in fragile and conflict affected states.

https://rli.sas.ac.uk/people/rebecca-thompson

Rebecca recently received a grant from The British Academy which enabled the publication of her recent paper entitled "Politically resilient humanitarianism: rethinking principles, power, and partnership in a fragmenting world order" and allowed her to participate in the Global (Dis)Order series, co-hosted by the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace.

https://www.thebritishacademy.ac.uk/documents/6026/Politically_resilient_humanitarianism.pdf