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

On February 16-17, 2018, the Human Rights Educational House in Chernihiv hosted a training course on “Protecting the Rights of Refugees and Asylum Seekers in Ukraine” for public activists and lawyers who work or plan to work with refugees and asylum seekers.

The trainer for the event was an expert on asylum and immigration and a practicing lawyer

Ostap Tymchiy

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Program Director of the Chernihiv Public Committee for the Protection of Human Rights

Tukhan Ediev

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, assisting them in accessing justice and effective legal remedies.

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 on the refusal to accept an asylum seeker’s application, prepare documents for its consideration, and grant the status of a refugee or a person in need of additional protection.

A separate session of the event was devoted to the 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.

At the end of the event, all attendees received certificates of completion of training in providing legal assistance to vulnerable groups of foreigners.

Contacts: Tukhan Ediev, work phone/fax: (0462) 675-281; ​​e-mail: .

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For information: The American people, through the United States Agency for International Development (USAID), have been providing economic and humanitarian assistance around the world for 55 years. Since 1992, USAID has contributed approximately $2 billion to Ukraine’s economic and social development. In Ukraine, USAID assistance is provided in areas such as economic development, democracy and governance, health, and the social sector. For more information about USAID programs, please contact USAID’s Public Affairs and Information Office at +38 (044) 521-5741, visit the website


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The United States Agency for International Development (USAID) New Justice Program has been implemented since October 2016 and builds on the achievements of previous USAID projects, Ukraine: Rule of Law and Fair Justice. The purpose of the program is to provide support to the judiciary, the Government, the Parliament, the legal community, law schools, civil society, the media and citizens in creating conditions for the functioning of an independent, accountable, transparent and effective justice system that ensures the rule of law, and in the fight against corruption.

For more information about the program, please call +38 (044) 581-3303.