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Nikola Kovačević (lawyer)

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Nikola Kovačević
Никола Ковачевић
Born (1989-06-16) June 16, 1989 (age 35)
NationalitySerbian
OccupationHuman rights lawyer
Awards2021 UNHCR Nansen Refugee Award in Europe

Nikola Kovačević (Serbian: Никола Ковачевић; born 16 June 1989) is a Serbian human rights lawyer. He was the recipient of the 2021 UNHCR Nansen Refugee Award in Europe.

Career

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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

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  1. ^ a b c "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. ^ a b c 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.