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

On November 7-8, 2020, the Human Rights Educational House – Chernihiv hosted a training on “Protection of 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.

Program Manager 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 assisting them in accessing justice and effective legal remedies, particularly during the COVID-19 pandemic and quarantine restrictions.

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 Press, Education, and Culture Section of the US Embassy in Ukraine.