JRS Europe reaffirms commitment to protect human rights through Advocacy and Communications

On 16 and 17 June 2026, JRS Europe brought again together colleagues from all around Europe working on Advocacy and Communications for a two-days meeting in Brussels, creating a shared space to reconnect, exchange experiences and strengthen collaboration across the network.

The meeting marked an important and much needed opportunity for both taskforces to reflect on their respective priorities while also exploring how advocacy and communications can work together. Throughout the programme, participants moved between joint sessions and parallel discussions, allowing each group to go deeper into its own areas of work while keeping a strong common thread.

The meeting opened with a joint session, “Advocacy & Communications Taskforces meeting is back”, setting the tone for two days of exchange, learning and collaboration. Participants then split into parallel sessions. Advocacy colleagues focused on developments and activities at national level, while communications colleagues explored current initiatives, challenges and opportunities for mutual learning across the network. 

In the afternoon, the Advocacy Taskforce welcomed Angelo Pittaluga, Head of Global Advocacy at JRS International Office, for a session with the title “Advocacy at the centre: An opportunity for JRS Global at uncertain times”. In parallel, the Communications Taskforce delved into the connection between communication and fundraising, looking at how stories, trust and engagement can inspire long-term support. The first day continued with a session on successful national advocacy strategy, presented through the example of JRS Romania by our colleague Diana Haidemak, and a European Campaign Lab for communications colleagues, focused on building engagement together and developing practical frameworks for future common campaigns. 

On the second day, participants came together again for the joint session “Re-shaping the narrative”, exploring how advocacy and communications can work together when JRS needs to respond to a concrete issue, policy development, campaign moment or national advocacy example. The session focused on the process of collaboration, asking how advocacy priorities can be translated into public narrative and communication actions that are clear, accurate, and human-centred. 

The final parallel sessions looked at two central thamatics for the future of the JRS Europe network of country offices. Advocacy colleagues discussed the EU Pact and the possible role of the JRS Europe network, by finally agreeing on three priority key areas at which they are planning to focus in the future, and especially during the first period of the enter into force of the new Common European Asylum System. Communications colleagues, on the other hand, focused on responsible AI and ethical storytelling, reflecting on how new technologies can support communication work while respecting dignity, consent and human responsibility. 

All in all, the meeting highlighted the importance of collaborating across roles and countries to be more effective and stronger, amid a rather hostile context for people fleeing violence to try to achieve a better life and, to that extent, for organisations and actors that accompany them and advocate for them. Advocacy brings policy analysis, legal and political accuracy, institutional targets, and strategic timing. Communications bring clarity, narrative, audience understanding, formats, and public engagement. When these perspectives come together, JRS Europe can speak with greater coherence, impact, and humanity. By strengthening collaboration between the two taskforces, JRS Europe aims to continue building shared narratives, common tools and coordinated actions that support the work of the network and contribute to a more just, welcoming and humane Europe.