ProIura
Fostering
connections,
protecting
human
rights
Established in 2024, Pro Iura is a hub for pro bono human rights litigation. In partnership across borders, we leverage European and international law to promote and defend fundamental rights.
Who we protect
So far, our efforts have focussed, among other priorities, on protecting individuals from border violence, ensuring appropriate reception conditions for asylum-seekers and safeguarding the health of individuals in administrative detention.
Why pro iura
Our name ‘Pro Iura’ is both a Latin reference to pro bono work concerning rights (iura) and inspired by the phonetic initials of human rights (iu-ra.)
The Rule 39
Pro Bono Initiative
About the Rule 39 Pro Bono Initiative
The Rule 39 Pro Bono Initiative is a large-scale award-winning collaborative effort, harnessing the combined expertise of human rights and pro bono lawyers to ensure effective access to urgent and non-urgent human rights protection for vulnerable foreigners at the European level.
Founded in 2021 and operating under the auspices of Pro Iura since 2024, the Rule 39 Pro Bono Initiative is supported by nine law firms and has been overseen by Dr. Daria Sartori since its inception, with the support of Muriel Vicquéry and Lyda Mastrantonio.
Where we work
Pro Iura provides support to civil society across several member countries of the Council of Europe
Poland
In Poland, we ensured the protection of several asylum-seekers from border violence and summary removals (“pushbacks”) so that they could safely lodge asylum requests after previous failed attempts had almost cost their lives.
Lithuania
In Lithuania, we ensured the protection of several asylum-seekers from border violence and summary removals (“pushbacks”) so that they could safely lodge asylum requests after previous failed attempts had almost cost their lives.
Greece
In Greece, we ensured the protection of several asylum-seekers from border violence and summary removals (“pushbacks”) so that they could safely lodge asylum requests after previous failed attempts had almost cost their lives.
Through an innovative request for provisional measures, we ensured that a family of Afghan asylum seekers, including 8 minors, were
provided with the necessary State support. Many asylum seekers in Greece, like the Applicants, are denied asylum on the presumption that they should return to Turkey, considered by Greece as a “safe third country”, but because returns to Turkey are not currently enforceable, they find themselves in a “legal limbo”, where they have no access to State support but are unable to legally leave the country.
Belgium
In 2022 and 2023, we developed a strategic partnership with the Belgian Legal Helpdesk to address the reception crisis that has left hundreds of asylum-seekers deprived of State assistance and forced to live on the streets. This partnership allowed to significantly increase access to shelter, by directly assisting 167 homeless asylum-seekers to submit applications to the ECtHR. This litigation has led to hundreds of positive decisions from the ECtHR on the matter, a historic result ensured by the efforts of all the parties involved.
Ukraine
In spring 2022, we managed to achieve two first-of-their-kind interim measure decisions in cases concerning the rights of foreigners stuck in Ukraine during active conflict, notably ensuring the relocation of migrants, refugees and asylum-seekers being held in a detention centre dangerously close to the frontlines to a safer area. The centre they had been held in was subsequently bombed, mere days after our successful intervention.
Italy
In Italy, we are tackling the critical issue of administrative detention of vulnerable foreigners. Among others, in summer 2024 we obtained a first-of-its-kind interim measure in favor of a foreign woman of unsound mind, unlawfully detained in catastrophic conditions in an administrative detention center for the repatriation of irregular foreigners. The woman was transferred to a hospital, where her critical health condition was properly addressed.
Cyprus
In Cyprus, we worked with our partner KISA on a critical case involving several asylum seekers stranded in the UN buffer zone between Cyprus and Turkey for months. The lodging of an interim measures request led to all asylum seekers gaining access to Cypriot territory, reception conditions, and asylum procedures.
Reviews
Reviews
What
civil society
says about us
Dajana Mustaqi
Koinoniko EKAV
“My cooperation with Rule39 was excellent, not only because of the high level of professionalism, but also because of the humanitarian approach to the case.”
★★★★★
Equal Legal Aid
“(…) the Rule 39 Initiative has been a reliable partner, providing our legal practitioners with invaluable support in defending vulnerable asylum seekers. The Rule 39 Initiative has had a direct and significant impact on the beneficiaries of our organisation, as it is the only organisation providing this expertise and type of legal support.”
★★★★★
Michael Neal, International Rescue Committee (IRC)
“The Rule 39 Initiative was indispensable to the International Rescue Committee’s assistance of asylum seekers beyond our reach. We hope the Initiative continues its crucial work in these difficult times.”
★★★★★
Hadil El-Khouly, Country Coordinator at Amnesty International UK
“I am profoundly grateful that The Rule 39 Pro Bono Initiative exists. Their work is nothing less than life-saving… Their presence offers real hope and concrete help in some of the darkest circumstances imaginable.”
★★★★★
Partners
Partners
All partners
of Pro Iura
