Mechanisms for legal protection of asylum seekers and refugees discussed in Chernihiv

On September 22, 2017, a round table “Protection of the Rights of International Protection Seekers and Refugees. International and National Standards” was held in Chernihiv.

The event was organized by the Chernihiv Public Committee for the Protection of Human Rights with the assistance of the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees in Ukraine within the framework of the project “Enhancing Access to Justice for Asylum Seekers, Migrants and Other Vulnerable Groups of Foreign Citizens in Ukraine”, which is implemented with the support of the American people, provided through the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) within the framework of the New Justice Program.

The roundtable meeting was attended by representatives of the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), judges of the Chernihiv District Administrative and Ripky District Courts, heads of regional and local centers for the provision of free secondary legal aid, representatives of the Chernihiv Temporary Residence Point for Foreigners, the prosecutor’s office, border and migration services, the legal and human rights community.

Dmytro Plechko

, UNHCR Legal Advisor, noted that the world has recently been experiencing a period of migration crisis. A number of European countries refuse to accept migrants in accordance with EU quotas. Therefore, smugglers of illegal migrants are constantly looking for new routes and ways to smuggle migrants to EU countries. According to the expert, over the past 3 years, there has been a significant decrease in the number of applications for refugee status in Ukraine, but the legal problems faced by asylum seekers in Ukraine are not decreasing.

Acting Director of the Regional Center for Provision of Legal Aid in Chernihiv Oblast

Olesya Pyrkovska

and Director of the Chernihiv Local Center for Provision of Legal Aid

Volodymyr Bobruyko

spoke about the principles of providing legal aid to international protection seekers and refugees. In particular, the experts discussed in detail the problematic issues that arise for lawyers when providing free legal aid to refugees and asylum seekers, in particular those held in the Chernihiv Temporary Residence Point for Foreigners (PTPI). Volodymyr Bobruyko noted that the BVPD centers cooperate with this institution and conduct on-site receptions of persons staying there.

“An important component of regulating migration processes is preventing violations of the rights of refugees and asylum seekers, preventing harsh treatment of unregulated migrants, and facilitating their access to justice and effective legal remedies,” the head of the center emphasized.

As part of the event, the attendees also discussed the current situation with refugees in the world and in Ukraine, the procedures for submitting applications for international protection, practical challenges in providing legal assistance to foreigners and stateless persons in cases of illegal crossing of the state border under Article 204-1 of the Code of Administrative Offenses, mechanisms for appealing decisions on the detention and placement of foreigners in the PTPI, extension of the terms of their detention and forced expulsion from Ukraine, the peculiarities of working with applicants who submit forged documents, are wanted or for whom there is a decision to ban entry to Ukraine, consideration of extradition requests, problems of recognition and integration of refugees in Ukraine.

Contacts:



Tukhan Ediev, Chernihiv Public Committee for the Protection of Human Rights, 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’s contribution to the economic and social development of Ukraine has amounted to about 2 billion US dollars. In Ukraine, USAID assistance is provided in such areas as: economic development, democracy and governance, health care, and the social sector. Additional information about USAID programs can be obtained from the USAID Public Affairs and Information Office at +38 (044) 521-5741, on the website, or on Facebook.

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 program’s goal is to support the judiciary, the Government, 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.