In the Asia-Pacific region, the Philippines is the only country whose government provides free legal assistance and representation to refugees and asylum seekers – another proof of the country’s willingness to open its doors to anyone forced to flee their homes. © UNHCR/Karen Cepeda
On 19 April 2023, the Philippine Public Attorney’s Office (PAO) and UNHCR, the UN Refugee Agency, renewed a decade-long Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) that provides free legal assistance, counselling, and representation to refugees, asylum seekers, stateless persons and other people we serve.
“Through our mutual cooperation the past decade, the PAO was able to render more than 5,000 judicial and quasi-judicial services to our refugees, stateless persons, and other persons of concern in their civil, administrative, criminal, quasi-judicial, and even labor cases,” said Chief Public Attorney Persida V. Rueda-Acosta at the signing of the MOU.
“Now more than ever, we need to strengthen our ties and prepare to come in aid of one of the most vulnerable classes of people. We must be ready at all times to provide them with swift and effective free legal assistance, counseling, and representation during their most difficult times. After all, legal aid is a fundamental human right that must be accorded to the underprivileged, and oftentimes marginalized, regardless of one’s ethnic origin, religious faith, personal belief, or political opinion.” she added.
UNHCR Philippines Head of National Office Maria Ermina Valdeavilla-Gallardo and Chief Public Attorney Persida V. Rueda-Acosta sign the fifth renewal of the Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) that provides free legal assistance, counselling, and representation to refugees, asylum seekers, stateless persons and other people we serve. © UNHCR/Karen Cepeda
Chief Public Attorney Persida V. Rueda-Acosta cites the partnership as instrumental in the provision of over 5,000 judicial and quasi-judicial services to refugees and stateless persons. © UNHCR/Karen Cepeda
Assistant Head and State Counsel Paulito De Jesus of the Department of Justice - Refugees and Stateless Persons Protection Unit (DOJ-RSPPU) emphasized the importance of legal assistance, a fundamental right of every person. © UNHCR/Karen Cepeda
UNHCR Head of National Office Maria Ermina Valdeavilla-Gallardo cited the Philippine government for being a trailblazer in assisting refugees, stateless persons, and those at risk of becoming stateless. © UNHCR/Karen Cepeda
First signed on 8 January 2013, this is the fifth renewal of the agreement, which serves as the testament to the invaluable partnership between the two (2) offices. Moreover, the steadfast cooperation between PAO and UNHCR to ensure access to free legal aid has been hailed and recognized globally through the Asylum Capacity Support Group (ACSG).
As a witness to the renewal of the MOU, Assistant Head and State Counsel Paulito De Jesus of the Department of Justice – Refugees and Stateless Persons Protection Unit (DOJ-RSPPU), expressed appreciation for the work of PAO and UNHCR to provide forcibly displaced and stateless persons and populations at risk of statelessness with protection.
“I know how hard working and how diligent and difficult it is, the work of a public attorney, especially in expanding the protection space for our persons of concern. We are very grateful that even up to today and hopefully for the years to come, PAO will still be there to render assistance to our persons of concern,” said De Jesus. The DOJ-RSPPU official also reiterated the importance of the partnership as legal assistance is a fundamental right of every person, including the persons of concern who do not have a government to protect them.
For Maria Ermina Valdeavilla-Gallardo, head of UNHCR’s National Office in the Philippines, the fifth renewal of the PAO-UNHCR MOU was a “momentous occasion and significant development for the Philippines as it fulfills the State’s obligations as enshrined in the Refugee and Statelessness Conventions and its Global Refugee Forum and High-Level Segment on Statelessness pledges to enhance its policy, legal, and operational framework.”
She also highlighted that this State-led provision of legal assistance continues to be a good practice which is hailed and recognized globally. “This is something that UNHCR truly recognizes and acknowledges. Within this region, it is only the Philippines, through its Public Attorney’s Office, that provides free legal assistance and representation to refugees and asylum seekers. [The] Philippines is a trailblazer when it comes to providing free legal assistance for the people that we serve. This is something that we hope other countries would be able to learn from because this is a best practice,” she emphasized.
“With the renewal of the MOU, we look forward to continue working together and better with PAO, DOJ-RSPPU, and other stakeholders in ensuring that the people we serve are not left behind,” Valdeavilla-Gallardo added.
UNHCR and PAO renew decade-long Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) that provides free legal assistance, counselling, and representation to refugees, asylum seekers, stateless persons and other people we serve. © UNHCR/Karen Cepeda
ABOUT UNHCR
The United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), the UN Refugee Agency, is a global organization dedicated to saving lives, protecting rights and building a better future for people forced to flee their homes because of conflict and persecution. We lead international action to protect refugees, forcibly displaced communities and stateless people. We deliver life-saving assistance, help safeguard fundamental human rights, and develop solutions that ensure people have a safe place called home where they can build a better future. We also work to ensure that stateless people are granted a nationality. We work in over 130 countries, using our expertise to protect and care for millions.
In the Philippines, UNHCR has maintained a presence for over 40 years, working on three pillars: providing durable solutions to refugees, ending and reducing statelessness, and empowering displaced families.
For more information on this topic, please contact:
Karen Cepeda
External Relations Associate
UNHCR Philippines
[email protected]
(02) 88172398
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