September 28th, 2010 Fellowship Opportunity with ORAM-Organization for Refuge, Asylum & Migration in San Francisco, Istanbul and Tel Aviv
ORAM is a US-based non-governmental organization providing international advocacy, legal representation and community education on gender-based refugee issues. Our current focus is exclusively on refugees seeking refugee status and resettlement based on their sexual orientation or gender identity. ORAM provides free legal counsel for lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and intersex (LGBTI) refugees who have escaped violence, executions and “honor killings” in their countries of origin. ORAM conducts legal field operations collaboratively with partner organizations in Turkey (Helsinki Citizens Assembly – Turkey) and in Israel (the Tel Aviv University Faculty of Law Refugee Rights Clinic). The organization’s active caseload currently includes over 40 clients in various phases of proceedings for recognition as refugees as well as resettlement in the US, Canada, Australia and other countries.
ORAM provides the following services to its clients in Turkey:
• Consultation regarding refugee status, migration and closely related issues;
• Preparation of petitions and legal assistance before the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR);
• Preparation of clients for interviews, hearings, etc.;
• Appeals of denied applications/petitions, where appropriate;
• Preparation of petitions and representation before the European Court of Human Rights (ECHR) (in extraordinary cases);
• Resettlement through UNHCR to safe third countries; and
• Filing of needed petitions to obtain exit permits.
ORAM also conducts US and international advocacy to highlight the challenges facing LGBTI asylum seekers and refugees. This advocacy takes the form of publications, policy reports, radio and television interviews, and presentations at conferences and law schools. In 2009, ORAM co-published the first report on the challenges facing LGBT refugees, “Unsafe Haven: The Security Challenges Facing Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender Refugees and Asylum Seekers in Turkey.” (See http://oraminternational.org/sites/default/files/pdf/Unsafe%20Haven%20Final.pdf.) A version of this article was published in Praxis: The Fletcher Journal of Human Security. ORAM works closely and collaboratively with the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) and the US Department of State Bureau of Population, Refugees & Migration (PRM).
Description of the Fellowship Program:
Istanbul Fellows will provide refugee counseling and representation in Turkey to LGBT Iranians, Afghanis and others. They will be placed at the Helsinki Citizens Assembly/ORAM site in Istanbul.
Tel Aviv Fellows will provide refugee counseling and representation to LGBT and Gender-based refugees from the Palestinian Authority, the Middle East and North Africa, Asia and South America.
After initial theoretical training, the Turkey and Israel Fellowships will be conducted on the premises of Helsinki Citizens Assembly – Turkey in Istanbul and the Tel Aviv University Faculty of Law, respectively. In both places, the Fellows must apply international refugee law, domestic law and UNHCR procedural guidelines to the claims of applicants before them and articulate the applicants’ claims in writing clearly and succinctly. The Fellowship involves a combination of intensive one-on-one contact with asylum applicants and refugees, legal research, factual research and writing.
San Francisco Fellows will conduct research and writing in the development of advocacy and training materials in conjunction with defined collaborative projects with the UN High Commissioner for Refugees and the US Department of State.
Particular Skills Necessary for Fellowship:
For both Turkey and Israel, Fellows should have strong interviewing and writing skills and outstanding interpersonal skills. They should have the ability to concentrate in one-on-one interviews over long hours and the ability to convey legal concepts in simple, understandable terms. Turkey Fellows must be fluent in Farsi. Foreign language knowledge is strongly preferred (but not required) for the Israel fellowship. However, speakers of Arabic or French will be given preferential consideration for this placement.
Advocacy Fellows (San Francisco) should have exceptional legal research, writing and advocacy skills as well as strong interpersonal skills.
Duration of the Program:
Placements are possible for either (a) Summer 2011 alone or (b) for Summer and Fall 2011 combined (i.e., June 2011 – December 2011).
Housing Information:
Full on-site assistance will be provided to Fellows in identifying and securing housing.
Name and Title of Placement Organization Contact Person:
Okan Sengun, Legal Education and Volunteer Coordinator, ORAM
Telephone, Fax and E-mail of Placement Organization Contact Person:
Telephone: 415-399-1701
Fax: 415-373-9191
Email: Email senguno@oraminternational.org
Name and title of fellow’s supervisor:
Neil Grungras, Esq., Executive Director, ORAM
Rachel Levitan, Esq., Director of Advocacy, ORAM
Telephone, fax and e-mail of fellow’s supervisor:
Telephone: 415-399-1701
Fax: 415-373-9191
Email: grungrasn@oraminternational.org; levitanr@oraminternational.org
Address where Fellowship will be conducted:
ORAM- Organization for Refuge, Asylum & Migration:
39 Drumm Street, 4th Floor
San Francisco, CA 94111
USA
Helsinki Citizens Assembly (ORAM Program) Istanbul, Istanbul, Turkey:
Helsinki Citizens Assembly Refugee Assistance & Support Program
Kumbaraci Yokusu
NO:50/3 Beyoglu
Istanbul 34430
Turkey
Tel Aviv University Faculty of Law Refugee Rights Clinic (ORAM Program):
The Legal Clinics, Tel Aviv University Buchman Faculty of Law
Ramat-Aviv, Tel-Aviv, 69978
Israel
Legal Intern Positions Available
The Equal Justice Society (EJS) is a national strategy group heightening consciousness on race in the law and popular discourse. Using strategies including legal advocacy, public policy, communications and alliance building, EJS seeks to restore race equity issues to the national consciousness and foster a society where race is no longer a barrier to opportunity. Our more than 5,000 members throughout the country include advocates, attorneys, jurists, scholars, social scientists, and communications experts. For more information on EJS, visit www.equaljusticesociety.org.
Positions: Legal Intern
EJS has legal intern positions available for FALL SEMESTER 2010 and SPRING SEMESTER 2011. The positions are open to law students who have completed at least their first year of law school. EJS legal interns participate in developing and executing projects that address civil rights and racial justice, the role of government in American society, affirmative action, and judicial nominations through legal advocacy, policy initiatives, coalition networks, media and public education.
Location: San Francisco, California
Compensation: Academic credit or work-study only. At this time, we are not able to offer paid positions.
Deadline:
FALL 2010 September 1, 2010
SPRING 2011 December 1, 2010
* Applications must be received in the office, not postmarked, by the dates listed.
* Positions will be filled on a rolling basis; early applications are welcome and will be reviewed as they are received.
Application:
Please email COVER LETTER, RESUME and WRITING SAMPLE to rshuford@equaljusticesociety.org with Law Clerk Application in the subject line.
OR mail hard copies to:
Reginald T. Shuford
Re: Clerk/Internship Applications
Equal Justice Society
260 California Street, Suite 700
San Francisco, CA 94111
