Kaldor Centre for International Refugee Law

Kaldor Centre for International Refugee Law
Name	Kaldor Centre for International Refugee Law
Established	2013
Type	Research centre
Affiliation	University of New South Wales
Location	Kensington, New South Wales
Director	Jane McAdam

Kaldor Centre for International Refugee Law is a research centre based at University of New South Wales dedicated to the study and promotion of international refugee law, human rights law, migration law, and related humanitarian and policy issues. The Centre conducts interdisciplinary research, offers education and training, and engages in policy advocacy with domestic and international bodies including courts, tribunals, and intergovernmental agencies. It collaborates with universities, nonprofits, and multilateral organizations to influence practice on matters such as asylum, statelessness, and displacement resulting from conflict, disaster, and human rights abuses.

History

The Centre was established in 2013 at University of New South Wales with support from philanthropists and legal scholars following discussions involving figures associated with High Court of Australia jurisprudence, Australian Human Rights Commission, and international law networks. Its founding responded to global developments including the Syrian Civil War, the European migrant crisis, and jurisprudential shifts in bodies such as the International Court of Justice, European Court of Human Rights, and the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees. Early activities built on scholarship from scholars linked to Refugee Studies Centre, Australian Red Cross, and comparative projects involving institutions like Harvard Law School, Oxford University, and Yale Law School.

Mission and Objectives

The Centre’s mission aligns with principles articulated in instruments such as the 1951 Refugee Convention, the 1967 Protocol Relating to the Status of Refugees, and the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. Objectives include producing evidence-based analysis for actors including UNHCR, International Organization for Migration, and domestic courts such as the Federal Court of Australia and appellate bodies like the High Court of Australia. The Centre prioritizes protection for populations affected by events like the Rohingya crisis, Venezuelan refugee crisis, and forced displacement from the South Sudanese Civil War, engaging with legal frameworks including the Convention on the Rights of the Child and the Convention Relating to the Status of Stateless Persons.

Research and Publications

Research themes encompass refugee status determination, non-refoulement doctrine, statelessness, complementary protection, and displacement due to climate-related events exemplified by cases in the Pacific Islands and the Marshall Islands. Publications include reports, policy briefs, and working papers disseminated to bodies such as the United Nations General Assembly, International Criminal Court, and the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights. The Centre has contributed amicus curiae briefs to courts like the European Court of Human Rights and the High Court of Australia, and collaborated on comparative projects with centers at Columbia University, University of Oxford, University of Cambridge, and The Australian National University. Outputs address intersections with instruments like the Geneva Conventions, the Rome Statute, and regional instruments such as the African Charter on Human and Peoples' Rights.

Education and Training

The Centre offers postgraduate coursework and short courses integrated with Faculty of Law, University of New South Wales curricula, convening workshops for practitioners from organizations such as Médecins Sans Frontières, Asylum Seeker Resource Centre, and Amnesty International. Training targets stakeholders including judges from the Federal Circuit and Family Court of Australia, decision-makers from Department of Home Affairs (Australia), and officials from regional bodies such as the Pacific Islands Forum. Educational collaborations extend to clinical programs with law schools including Melbourne Law School, Monash University, and international partners like University of Toronto Faculty of Law.

Policy Engagement and Impact

The Centre engages in policy debates before entities including the Australian Parliament, UN Human Rights Council, and the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights, providing submissions, testimony, and expert analysis. Impact is observable in submissions to inquiries on offshore processing involving actors such as Nauru and Manus Island, and in policy dialogues addressing settlement services run by organizations like Settlement Services International and Red Cross Australia. The Centre’s evidence has been cited in media outlets and parliamentary committee reports concerning landmark matters involving detainee treatment, statelessness determinations, and regional resettlement arrangements tied to agreements with states like Papua New Guinea and United States resettlement programmes.

Partnerships and Funding

Partnerships include academic collaborations with Refugee Studies Centre, Global Migration Centre, and research networks such as the International Association of Refugee Law Judges. Funding sources have included philanthropic foundations, university grants from University of New South Wales, and project-specific support linked to agencies like UNHCR and foundations associated with donors from Sydney and international benefactors. The Centre works with civil society partners including Human Rights Watch, Jesuit Refugee Service, and Caritas Internationalis on joint research and advocacy.

Governance and Personnel

Governance comprises an advisory board and an executive team that includes legal scholars, policy experts, and former practitioners with experience at bodies like UNHCR, Australian Human Rights Commission, and international tribunals. Senior personnel have connections to academics and practitioners from institutions such as Harvard University, Yale University, University of Oxford, and London School of Economics. Notable associated individuals include jurists and scholars who have published on matters before the International Court of Justice, the European Court of Human Rights, and national appellate courts. The Centre supports fellows and postgraduate researchers from jurisdictions including Australia, United Kingdom, United States, Canada, and Pacific states.

Category:Refugee law