Bellagio Residents/

Emily Arnold

May 2023 Cohort

Bellagio Residency: May 2023

Project: “Refugees & Work in Law and Practice”


Emily Arnold-Fernández is a distinguished lawyer, scholar, and practitioner specializing in migration and displacement, human rights, digital worlds, and inclusive economies. She visited Bellagio in May 2023 to work on an academic book revealing the way laws, policies, and practices of states impact refugees’ experiences of work and their participation in local, national, and global economies. Emily’s achievements have earned her numerous accolades, including the Equality and Nondiscrimination Award from Mexico’s National Council to Prevent Discrimination; the prestigious Grinnell Prize; and recognition by the Dalai Lama as one of 50 “Unsung Heroes of Compassion”. She is the founder and served for many years as CEO of Asylum Access, the leading global refugee human rights organization.