On this page, you will find:
To find organisations working for LGBTQI+ rights, visit our Uruguay LGBTQI+ Resources page.
For Uruguay country of origin information (COI) experts, reports, commentaries, and relevant documents visit our Uruguay COI page.
Refugee protection
Click here to see the numbers and origins of refugees hosted by Uruguay.
The following sections contain information on the most important international treaties and agreements of which Uruguay is signatory, as well as national legislation relevant to the protection of refugees.
Uruguay is a party to both the 1951 Convention relating to the Status of Refugees and to its 1967 Protocol. It has also accepted the UN Statelessness Conventions.
Regionally, Uruguay applies the regional broader refugee definition in accordance with the 1984 Cartagena Declaration on Refugees.
Uruguay’s national legal framework on refugee protection is set out in its 2006 Refugee Law (Law n.º 18.076 – Ley de Derecho al Refugio y a los Refugiados). It provides for refugee status determination (RSD) procedure and measures related to local integration and access to fundamental rights. Also, it determined the creation a Refugee Commission (CORE), which is in charge of adjudicating
asylum claims. The refugee legal framework is complemented by Migration Law Nº 18.250, which incorporates safeguards regarding the
protection of asylum seekers and the prevention of refoulement at borders.
Legal aid organisations
Headquarters:
Address: José Enrique Rodó 2182, casi Requena, Montevideo, Uruguay
Tel: +598 92 232 693
Opening Hours: Saturdays from 10:00 to 12:00.
Chuy Punto de Atención
Address: Bulevar General Artigas 323 – Local 2, Chuy.
Tel: (+598) 92232693
Email: chuy@idasyvueltas.org.uy
Opening Hours: Monday to Friday from 9:00 to 14:00 hs.
Asociación Idas y Vueltas is an NGO that aims to protect migrants rights in Uruguay. They have a “Punto de Atención y Orientación (PAO) IDAS Y VUELTAS” (attention and orientation site) in Chuy and they also provide legal assistance in their headquarters. Their services relate to legal assistance on residency, visas, family reunification, citizenship, and refugee determination status procedure.
Organisations providing other support to refugees
Facebook
Address: Colonia 1569/201 – 11200, Montevideo
Tel: (+598) 2402 1827, (+598) 9132 3519 , (+59 8) 9862 4906 (for social integration matters) and (+598) 9132 3519 (for legal issues)
Email: info@sedhu.uy, areasocial@sedhu.uy, elegibilidad@sedhu.uy, and reasentamiento@sedhu.uy
Since 2001, SEDHU is Uruguay’s Implementing Agency of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR). It is responsible for the attention and care of all asylum seekers and refugees who are in Uruguay. The asylum seekers and refugees are helped in obtaining documentation (identity card, etc.), social services and are also supported in finding jobs and housing. Since 2008 it is the responsible agency in Uruguay of the Solidarity Resettlement Program, found under the Mexico Action Plan. Because of this responsibility it is currently preparing a work plan for the implementation of a pilot programme.
Uruguay LGBTQI+ Resources
Find organisations working for refugee LGBTQI+ rights in Uruguay.
Uruguay COI
Find Uruguay Country of Origin information (COI) experts, reports, commentaries, and relevant documents.
We are always looking to expand the resources on our platform. If you know about relevant resources, or you are aware of organisations and/or individuals to include in our directories, please get in touch.
Last updated June 2023