In 1985 the Committee became its own entity by the Convention for Refugees Alizadeh-Ghannad. They are a charitable, non-partisan group comprised of scholars, officials, artists and refugees who all advocate refugees\u0092 rights.\n\nIn 1986 a new method of counseling and supporting refugees was developed, and an office in the WUK (Werkst\u00e4tten- und Kulturhaus, Vienna) was created. In this office lawyers and social workers were available for counseling for legal and\/or social matters. Approximately 8,000 were helped in only the first few years. In 1989 the numbers of refugees drastically increased as 2,653 refugees from Iran, Romania, Lebanon, Iraq, Vietnam, Bulgaria, Syria, and the USSR arrived. 883 of those refugees were helped on the long run at the WUK.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The goal of the organization is to provide free legal counseling and care to all refugees, including those seeking asylum from conflict areas. At the same time, the members of the organization hope to bring awareness to the plight of refugees as well. The committee operates today under the name \u0093Asylum in need\u0094 and is still located in the Vienna WUK.<\/p>\n\n\n\n