Access to Public Services and Access to Justice for Refugees and Asylum Seekers in Northern Ireland
The Ombudspersons and the Protection of Refugees and Asylum Seekers (OPRAS) Project.
The OPRAS project is a collaboration between Professor Chris Gill (University of Glasgow) and the Northern Ireland Public Services Ombudsman (NIPSO), generously funded by the British Academy under the British Academy Innovation Fellowship scheme. The project sought to develop novel collaborations, an evidence base for innovation, and resources to support the protection of asylum seekers and refugees. It aimed to explore transformative approaches to the role and practices of ombudspersons in Northern Ireland and beyond, with the potential to redefine and extend their impact in society. The ultimate aim of the project was to enhance access to justice for asylum seekers and refugees, helping to ensure that they are able to access rights and entitlements. The project ran for a 12-month period between April 2024 and March 2025. For more information about the project, please see: https://oprasproject.wordpress.com/.
A note on the status of this report Although the OPRAS project was conducted collaboratively, this summary report has been written by Professor Chris Gill as an independent piece of academic scholarship. With the exception of the Foreword, the contents of the report, its analysis, conclusions, and recommendations, do not necessarily reflect the position of NIPSO. Instead, the report provides independent analysis designed to support the work of NIPSO and other ombudspersons, civil society organisations, and public bodies in enhancing access to justice for asylum seekers and refugees.
Acknowledgments I would like to thank all the participants in this research who gave generously of their time, experience, and expertise. I would also like to thank NIPSO and all the members of staff who supported this project in various ways. Special thanks to Margaret Kelly and Julie Healy for being so willing to collaborate on the project and for all their help and support over the last year.
Final report of the of Ombudspersons and the Protection of Refugees and Asylum Seekers (OPRAS) project | 3
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