By: Cornelia Walles
The Raoul Wallenberg Institute (RWI), in collaboration with the Association of Legal Clinics of Ukraine and the Polish Legal Clinics Foundation, held the closing reflection session of the project “Standing with Ukraine by Providing Enhanced Rights Protections for IDPs and Refugees” (SUPERPIR).
The session, held online on August 27, kicked off with the presentation of the final project report. It provided partners and participants with an opportunity to reflect on lessons learned, highlight key achievements, and discuss the most pressing legal needs of Ukrainian internally displaced persons (IDPs) and refugees. Participants also explored how cooperation can continue beyond the project’s end.
Among the guiding questions were:
- What meaningful connections have been created through the project?
- What have been the biggest learnings in terms of methods and knowledge?
- Which legal needs of IDPs and refugees remain the most urgent?
- What issues should be prioritized for future collaboration?
Lessons, Challenges, and Reflections
Partners shared insights on both successes and challenges. A recurring theme was the value of new partnerships and collaborations formed during the project. The initiative created important opportunities for peer-to-peer exchange of knowledge, methods, and experiences, demonstrating both common challenges displaced persons face across borders and the different ways organizations respond within their national contexts.
One of the most appreciated activities was the in-person workshops on best practices and methods. A notable example was the session led by Anna Bruce, Senior Researcher at RWI, on the Human Rights-Based Approach (HRBA). Participants reported that the workshop provided them with practical tools for applying HRBA when supporting Ukrainian IDPs and refugees. The session also emphasized the importance of intersectionality, understanding how overlapping identities and vulnerabilities affect people’s access to rights and how this awareness can make legal assistance more effective and fair.
Despite progress, challenges remain. Partners identified persistent barriers such as the lack of timely and accurate information for displaced persons, obstacles in accessing healthcare and education, and legal hurdles that require stronger cooperation among actors. The project, however, was seen as a step forward in building meaningful connections to address these issues.
Highlights from the Closing Session
The online session brought together 20 participants from Sweden, Poland, and Ukraine, including key speakers such as Liliia Amelicheva from the Association of Legal Clinics of Ukraine, Mateusz Fedeńczuk from the Polish Legal Clinics Foundation, and Tatsiana Rahozina and Edwina Magnus from RWI. Discussions revolved around strengthening legal assistance and information for IDPs and refugees, the role of the Human Rights-Based Approach, and the importance of building networks and platforms that enable lasting cooperation.
The SUPERPIR project has aimed to strengthen the protection of rights for Ukrainian IDPs and refugees by supporting providers of legal assistance and information in Poland, Sweden, and Ukraine.
The project was made possible with the support of the Swedish Institute (SI) under the SI Baltic Sea Neighbourhood Programme. RWI gratefully acknowledges SI’s commitment to advancing human rights capacity in the region.
More information:
Learn more about the project at: Supporting Ukrainians with Legal Assistance – The Raoul Wallenberg Institute of Human Rights and Humanitarian Law
Learn more about our partners: Polish Legal Clinics Foundation and Association of Legal Clinics of Ukraine
Interested in reading the full report? Send us an email at: tatsiana.rahozina@rwi.lu.se