Civil society activists will promote access to justice for refugees and asylum seekers

On December 7-8, 2021, the Human Rights Educational House – Chernihiv hosted a training on “Protection of the Rights of Refugees and Asylum Seekers” for Ukrainian public activists and human rights defenders who work or plan to work with refugees and asylum seekers.

The Head of Programs of the Chernihiv Public Committee for the Protection of Human Rights

Nadiya Edieva

emphasized the importance of the role of civil society in preventing violations of the rights of refugees and asylum seekers, preventing the mistreatment of irregular migrants, and facilitating their access to justice and effective legal remedies, particularly in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic and current migration challenges.

During the training, human rights defenders and public activists became familiar with the relevant practice of the European Court of Human Rights, the procedure for determining refugee status under the 1951 Convention relating to the Status of Refugees and the Law of Ukraine “On Refugees and Persons in Need of Additional or Temporary Measures”, with the specifics of appealing decisions of the State Migration Service of Ukraine to refuse to accept an asylum seeker’s application, prepare documents for its consideration, and grant refugee or person in need of additional protection status.

A separate session of the event was devoted to problematic issues of protecting the right to liberty and personal integrity, preventing torture, inhuman and degrading treatment and punishment of migrants, and the risks of expulsion and extradition of asylum seekers.

The event was organized by the Chernihiv Public Committee for the Protection of Human Rights with the support of the Human Rights Houses Foundation.