Katarína is a lawyer specializing in international law, human rights and refugee law. For over three years, she worked at the UN Refugee Agency (UNHCR) in Slovakia, focusing primarily on the legal protection of refugees, asylum seekers and stateless persons. She led UNHCR’s legal and legislative activities to advocate for their rights, collaborating with state authorities and key partners to strengthen their protection and ensure access to their rights in Slovakia.
Her work involved monitoring borders, access to territory and asylum procedures, as well as assessing living conditions and protocols in asylum facilities and immigration detention centers. She was also responsible for legal analysis, legislative reviews, individual counseling, drafting expert reports and liaising with public institutions, professional networks and civil society. A major focus of her role was the humanitarian response to the conflict in Ukraine, safeguarding people fleeing the war who found refuge in Slovakia, which included targeted advocacy to reinforce their rights and access to services.
Prior to her time at UNHCR, she worked for the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) in South and Southeast Asia. Her work focused on preventing violent extremism conducive to terrorism, specifically addressing gender dynamics, youth engagement and designing effective rehabilitation and reintegration programs. She also brings extensive experience in managing international projects and collaborating with public institutions, international organizations and global experts.
She studied International and European Law, specializing in Public International Law and Human Rights, in The Hague, Netherlands, and later earned a Master’s degree in Public International Law in Edinburgh, Scotland. At HRL, she provides legal assistance to foreigners and asylum seekers.
