Refugiados Unidos is a left-of-center nonprofit organization based in Colombia founded by Lublanc Prieto Davila, a Venezuelan refugee and human rights lawyer specializing in migration issues. ¹ The organization was established in 2018 as a response to the legal protection of Venezuelan migrants, whom the group claims face systemic barriers to employment, health care, and legal support upon arrival in Colombia. ¹

Originally launched as part of a program at Pontificia Universidad Javeriana’s Legal Clinic, Refugiados Unidos has since grown into an independent entity that focuses on providing humanitarian support, legal aid, and community-building initiatives for Venezuelan refugees. ² The organization aims to address challenges that forcibly displaced individuals from abroad allegedly face upon entering Colombia, including limited access to justice, healthcare, and housing. ³

Background and Advocacy

Refugiados Unidos was founded in 2018 by Lublanc Prieto Davila, a Venezuelan refugee and human rights lawyer specializing in migration issues. It operates as a Colombia-based nonprofit focused on providing direct support services and legal assistance to Venezuelan refugees and migrants. Originating from the Legal Clinic at Pontificia Universidad Javeriana, the organization aims to address gaps in access to resources such as healthcare, housing, and legal representation for Venezuelan migrants navigating displacement and integration challenges in Colombia. By utilizing Colombia’s legal mechanisms, such as “acción de tutela” (a constitutional legal action), Refugiados Unidos has helped refugees claim basic rights within the national legal framework. This approach has contributed to a growing understanding of how local legal systems can serve as resources for migrant populations with limited formal access to government services. ⁴

Leadership

Prieto’s participation in global platforms such as the World Refugee Forum underscores the organization’s commitment to using both local and international dialogue to highlight the needs and challenges of displaced communities from Venezuela. At the 2023 World Refugee Forum, Prieto alongside other civil society representatives claimed that the needs of Venezuelan refugees are often underrepresented within the larger international refugee policy framework. ⁵

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4. Elevate Prize. “Lublanc Prieto, Fundación Refugiados Unidos.” Elevate Prize, accessed November 6, 2024. https://elevateprize.org/finalist/lublanc-prieto-fundacion-refugiados-unidos/.
5. Bedoya Horta, Fernanda, Stéphanie López, and Lublanc Prieto. “Venezuela’s Low Participation in the World Refugee Forum.” Ground News, November 6, 2024. https://ground.news/article/venezuelas-low-participation-in-the-world-refugee-forum.