The Danish contribution to responsibility sharing in the context of the war in Ukraine is regulated by the Special Act on Ukrainian Displaced Persons, passed in Parliament on 16 March 2022. Due to its general opt-out regarding the EU Justice and Home Affairs (JHA), Denmark is not bound by the EU Temporary Protection Directive (TPD), which has otherwise been activated by EU countries in response to the refugee influx from Ukraine. The Special Act, however, is inspired by the TPD and bears some similarity to it. The Act allows for displaced persons from Ukraine to apply for a temporary residence permit outside of normal asylum and migration regulations and procedures. Persons granted a residence permit under the Act are provided with a range of rights on residence and integration, beyond those normally associated with asylum or the legal position of aliens in general. The legal position of Syrians and other (war)refugees fleeing situations similar to that of the conflict in Ukraine is entirely different, as they are exempt from the catalogue of rights included under the Act. It is argued, therefore, that the Special Act may be seen as constituting direct discrimination.

Information about participants

Dr. Jesper Lindholm, Associate Professor and Chairperson of the Study Board, Department of Law, Aalborg University (AAU). His research and teaching activities relate to international law, human rights and asylum. His most recent publications include issues such as human rights jurisdiction at sea, Ukrainian displaced persons in Denmark, and the rights of refugee and migrant children. Jesper is a member of the Steering Committee of the AAU Center for Displacement, Migration and Integration (MIX) and a founding member of the Department of Law Research Group on Global and Transnational Law. He is a former employee of Amnesty International (London) and UNHCR (Geneva, Kosovo, Pakistan, Ireland) and a former member of the Danish Refugee Appeals Board (asylum adjudicating body). Finally, he is a current and former board member of a number of humanitarian NGOs and academic bodies.

Maysum Sattar Al-Sami, LL.M., PhD Fellow, Department of Law, Aalborg University (AAU). Her research and teaching activities relate to international law, human rights, immigration law and police law. She is a member of the Department of Law Research Group on Global and Transnational Law (RGTLaw) and the AAU Center for Displacement, Migration and Integration (MIX). Maysum recently co-authored an article on Ukrainian displaced persons in Denmark. Externally Maysum currently volunteers at a legal aid focusing on issues related to immigration law.

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Join Zoom Meeting: https://aaudk.zoom.us/j/68736863714

Meeting ID: 687 3686 3714
Passcode: 886992

Contact

If you have any questions regarding the seminar, please contact Liene Ulmane at lulman22@student.aau.dk.