Migrant Rights: Nigerian-Polish Initiative

Project number: N-226

Achievements

Results and lessons learned: 

Rights and Obligations of Foreigners Living In The Republic Of Poland

An information brochure on the “Rights and Obligations of Foreigners Living In The Republic Of Poland” has been prepared and published in the framework of the project, “Migrant Rights: Nigerian-Polish Initiative”. The brochure prepared by the project team of project Polish partner organization, “Rule of Law Institute” is available for download on the news section of the project website at www.nigerianpolishinitiative.org.

This publication is not only a legal guide for migrants, it is self-educating on the rights and obligations of migrants and acts as a companion for migrants who experience drastic plights in advancing the knowledge of their rights and obligations in the Republic of Poland. Rights and Obligations of Foreigners Living In The Republic Of Poland carries exhaustive information about the terms and conditions for the application for the legalization of stays as well as obtaining the Polish citizenship. The self-educating brochure is designed to promote the knowledge of migrants on their rights and obligations to accelerate their integration ambitions in the Republic of Poland. The publication is sponsored by the European Union through the European Commission – United Nations, Joint Migration and Development Initiative and implemented by the United Nations Development Progamme (UNDP).

Key success or innovative factors: 

Legal Assistance to Foreigners: Over one hundred and fifty migrants resident in Poland have obtained our free legal assistance. Out of which, about 50 Nigerians living in Poland have been assisted in the request for the new biometric Nigerian passports. In addition, most of the detainees from the incident of the killing of the Nigerian at Warsaw, the Capital city of Poland, and whose travel documents were ceased by the Polish Police authority have been assisted to regain access to their travel documents. Through the project, Nigerians have been given a voice in Poland.

In Nigeria, a team of migration lawyers have been trained and instituted to implement actions relating to migration issues from Nigeria. This team of migration lawyers react on the issues of the imprudent entry visa refusal by many diplomatic missions and embassies in Nigeria as well as the cases of irregular migration that is most predominant in Nigeria.

Implementing organisation

Organisation name: 
Human Support Services (HSS)
Instytut na Rzecz Panstwa Prawa (FIPP) / Rule of Law Institute Foundation

Description of Initiative

Brief description of the initiative: 

Nigerian-Polish Initiative is a partnership which began on October 1, 2009. The project is designed to enhance the protection of the rights of migrants in Poland. Partners to 'Migrant Rights: Nigerian-Polish Initiative' are the Rule of law Institute Foundation from Poland and Human Support Services from Nigeria. The programme is funded by the European Union through the EC-UN Joint Migration and Development Initiative (JMDI).

Main objectives: 

This project will develop the partners' capacity to enhance the protection of migrants' rights.

Main activities: 

• Facilitate networking and dissemination and exchange of knowledge and information between partner countries;
• Monitor and report all immigration legislation;
• Provide counselling, consultation services and legal assistance to migrants and refugees;
• Improve migrants' knowledge about their rights and obligations;
• Raise awareness against abusive and exploitative labour practices and violation of migrant rights as well as violence against women and girls;
• Facilitate the exploration and operationalization of the links between community-based organizations, private and public institutions for promotion and defence of migrant rights.

Main beneficiaries: 

• 200 Nigerian migrants will be educated on their rights; approx. 900 people intending to migrate will be informed of dangers of irregular channels of migration;
• the skills of 13 lawyers will be improved on legal assistance, and they will provide assistance to 120 refugees and 200 migrants;
• 20 lawyers will be trained on legal counselling and will provide counselling to 250 migrants' family members;
• 23 local administrators, 6 officials of migration authorities and 17 NGO officials will be trained in the protection of migrant rights.

Target groups: 
Refugees, Asylum Seekers
Women

Countries involved

Country: 
Nigeria
Partner country(ies): 
Poland

Focus Area

JMDI Focus area: 
Adopting a human rights-based approach to migration and development
Enhancing migrants’ role in development through protection of their rights
Making migration work better for development by addressing inappropriate recruitment practices
Mitigating the negative impact of migration on family members’ rights in countries of origin
MDGs targeted: 
Goal 1: Eradicate extreme poverty and hunger
Goal 3: Promote gender equality and empower women

Practical details

Status: 
Ongoing
Start date - End date: 
October 1, 2009 - March 31, 2011
Budget: 
178,800
Donors: 
JMDI, European Union
Project weblink/URL: 
http://www.nigerianpolishinitiative.org/

Contact person

Contact user name: 
Wisdom Ejebugha

Project pictures

Project documents

  • WORKSHOP - Migration Policies and Protection of Rights and Obligations of Migrants in Republic of Poland - Programme Agenda

    The 2-day training workshops will be conducted on the theme: “Migration Policies and Protection of Rights and Obligations of Migrants in Republic of Poland”. Participants will be lawyers, migration officers in Poland and other representatives of the Nigerian community in RP.

    Major topics of discussion:

    • Protection of rights and obligations of migrants
    • The problems of Nigerians living and working in Poland
    • Labour migration policy in Poland, and,
    • Legalization of stay of Nigerian Migrants in Poland.

    Confirmation of participation :

    To enable us to plan appropriately on hotel accommodation reservations, please contact us to
    confirm your interest in attending the program by 10th March, 2010:

    Tel: 0817436805
    e-mail: wejebugha and mcios.

  • A Foreigners Legal Guide to Living in Poland

    Chapter 1 - The terms and conditions of entry into and staying on the territory of the Republic of Poland by foreigners
    Chapter 2 - Work by a foreigner in Poland
    Chapter 3 - Assumption of economic activity in Poland by a foreigner
    Chapter 4 - The acquisition of real estate by a foreigner
    Chapter 5 - Education of foreigners in Poland. Scholarships and access to education –
    Chapter 6 - Access to Health care in Poland
    Chapter 7 - Access to Family benefits
    Chapter 8 - Access to Social services

 

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