Nikola Kovačević (lawyer)

Nikola Kovačević (born 1989) is a Serbian human rights lawyer. He was the recipient of the 2021 UNHCR Nansen Refugee Award in Europe.

Nikola Kovačević
Никола Ковачевић
Born1989 (1989)
NationalitySerbian
OccupationHuman rights lawyer
Awards2021 UNHCR Nansen Refugee Award in Europe

Career

Kovačević is a human rights lawyer who supports the protection needs of refugees in Serbia.[1] He also helps asylum seekers and refugees find shelter, employment, education and healthcare, so that they can eventually build a new life in Serbia.[1] Kovačević's desire to represent refugees and asylum seekers was sparked by an encounter with an Iranian family in 2012 at a Serbian asylum centre.[2] Since then, he has represented nearly 30% of all asylum seekers granted protection in Serbia.[3]

In 2021, Kovačević was the regional winner of UNHCR Nansen Refugee Award for Europe.[2] The award is given to "individuals, groups and organizations that go beyond their responsibilities in the field of protection of refugees, displaced persons and stateless persons."[4] He is the first person from Serbia and the Balkans to win the award.[2] Kovačević's work has helped to bring about significant improvements to the asylum system in Serbia, including an increase in the number of refugees granted asylum.[1]

Kovačević is a member of the A11 Initiative for Human Rights, a Non-governmental organization based in Belgrade.[5]

References
  1. "Nikola Kovačević, pravnik za ljudska prava, dobitnik Nansenove nagrade" [Nikola Kovačević, human rights lawyer, winner of the Nansen Award]. Danas (in Serbian). 29 September 2021.
  2. Gec, Jovana (7 October 2021). "Serbian rights lawyer wins UN refugee agency award in Europe". U.S. News & World Report. The Associated Press.
  3. Geddes, Farrah (29 September 2021). "Serbian human rights lawyer fights for the rights of refugees and asylum-seekers". unhcr.org. The United Nations Refugee Agency. Retrieved 14 October 2021.
  4. Diković, Jelena (10 October 2021). "Nikola Kovačević: Tražiocima azila dati odmah putne isprave i radne dozvole" [Nikola Kovačević: Give asylum seekers travel documents and work permits immediately]. Danas (in Serbian). Retrieved 14 October 2021.
  5. "Inicijativa A11: Evropski sud za ljudska prava sledeća adresa za pretučene na protestima". 021.rs. N1. 24 September 2020.
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