UNHCR Iran operates a Legal Services Project jointly with its main government counterpart, BAFIA. The objective of this project are providing legal assistance to refugees in Iran and resolving disagreements through alternative dispute resolution mechanisms.
The project components include Dispute Settlement Committees (DSCs) and UNHCR Hired Lawyers (UHLs).
DSCs and UHLs assist refugees in finding solutions and settling their legal disputes through a mediation and advice mechanism. In addition to participating in the DSC meetings, held on a bi-monthly basis, UHLs provide free legal advice and assistance to refugees.
Currently, there are 16 DSCs and 17 UHLs collaborating with UNHCR in different provinces including Tehran, Qom, Esfahan, Yazd, Kerman, Fars, Khorasan Razavi, South Korasaan, Khuzestan, Alborz, Markazi, Semnan, Qazvin, Hormozgan, Sistan Balouchestan and Golestan (Gorgan and Gonbad), providing assistance to refugees.
So far in 2019, UHLs have assisted 2,995 individuals (2,946 Afghans, 48 Iraqis and 1 Pakistani); and DSCs have examined the cases of 1,657 individuals (1,654 Afghans and 3 Iraqis) on family disputes, debts and other financial issues.