Understanding Refugee Rights: Insights from the 1951 Refugee Convention in Our Erasmus+ Project in Riga

As part of the Erasmus+ Youth Exchange project "Together We Unite, Together We Stand" (Ref. No: 2024-1-LV02-KA152-YOU-000200378), held in Riga from December 15-21, 2024, one of the most impactful sessions focused on the 1951 Refugee Convention — a cornerstone of international refugee law.

Throughout the project, participants from Latvia, Austria, Turkey, Portugal, Spain, and Ukraine engaged in deep discussions and interactive sessions about the rights and protections granted to refugees under international law. Special emphasis was placed on the 1951 Convention, which defines who qualifies as a refugee, outlines their rights, and sets the legal obligations of states to protect them.

Learning about this key international document gave young participants a legal and historical context to the modern refugee experience. It clarified the distinction between refugees and other displaced populations and underlined the principle of non-refoulement, which prohibits the return of individuals to a country where their life or freedom would be threatened.

These insights strengthened the participants' understanding of the global framework supporting displaced persons and reinforced the values of human dignity, protection, and shared responsibility. By connecting legal principles with real-world refugee stories shared during the project, we humanized complex topics and empowered young people to advocate for fairer and more inclusive policies.

As a partner organization from Austria, we value the opportunity to raise awareness not only about refugee struggles but also about the importance of international solidarity and youth empowerment through the Erasmus+ programme. Projects like this are vital in building bridges between people, laws, and lived experiences.