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Launch of the Council of Europe package of measures in response to the refugee influx in Armenia

The Council of Europe launched today a comprehensive response package to the refugee influx in Armenia of € 2.8 million.

As part of the package, the Council of Europe has launched four new initiatives and incorporated additional components into two ongoing projects. “The response package aims at protecting the human rights of refugees, resilience of the local communities, social rights, children and women, and support to human rights institutions”, underlined Claus Neukirch, Director of Programme Coordination of the Council of Europe. “The response package supports authorities with addressing capacity constraints in many areas that are critical not only to refugees but to all people with vulnerabilities”, said David Best, Special Representative of the Secretary General on Migration and Refugees of the Council of Europe.

“Following the influx of refugees in September 2023, the Government of Armenia did its best to provide a quick response to the refugee. The response includes short-, mid-, and long-term measures of support. Now we are in the stage of long-term measures.  Cooperation with the Council of Europe is very important to us, and we highly value the support of the Council of Europe and its response package to the refugees’ influx", said the Minister of Labour and Social Affairs of Armenia Narek Mkrtchyan. 

New projects to be launched as part of the package:

  • Strengthening Human Rights Safeguards
  • Enhancing Social Human Rights
  • Protecting Children’s Rights 
  • Support to Host Communities

Ongoing projects with new components added:

  • Promoting Gender Equality and Ending Violence against Women
  • Protection of Human Rights in Biomedicine

The package of measures is a result of the visit by the Special Representative of the Secretary General on Migration and Refugees (SRSG) in October 2023, during which specific areas for support were jointly identified with the national authorities. The package is in line with the Council of Europe's Action Plan for Armenia (2023-2026) and the Action Plan on Protecting Vulnerable Persons within the context of migration and asylum (2021-25).




 Council of Europe launches a package of measures in response to the refugee influx in Armenia

 Download the overview of the Council of Europe comprehensive response package to the refugee influx in Armenia in the framework of the Council of Europe Action Plan 2023-2026 for Armenia

 Visit the Directorate of Programme Co-ordination of the Council of Europe web page on Armenia

 Visit the Council of Europe Office in Yerevan website

 Press release

 
 
YEREVAN, ARMENIA 11 April 2024
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What is the goal and objective of the project?

"Protecting the Rights of Children in Armenia” project is part of the Council of Europe comprehensive response package to the refugee influx in Armenia in the framework of the Council of Europe Action Plan 2023-2026. The project aims at supporting the Armenian authorities in their efforts to strengthen the resilience and capacity of the child protection system, in line with international and Council of Europe standards.

The main components of the project are: 1) protection of unaccompanied and separated children in post-conflict context, and 2) protection of children from sexual abuse and exploitation.

The project draws on the Council of Europe's expertise to safeguard children's rights in the aftermath of conflict. Aligned with the Council of Europe Strategy for the Rights of the Child, the project, inter alia, supports the implementation of the Recommendation of the Committee of Ministers on effective guardianship for unaccompanied and separated children in migration contexts.

 Start Date: 01 January 2024

 Duration: 36 months

 Funding: EUR 860 000

Donor: Donors contributing to the Council of Europe Action Plan for Armenia 2023–2026

Contact Person: Artyom SEDRAKYAN, Senior Project Officer

 

Who benefits from the project?
How does the project work?

The cooperation project will be carried out in line with the priorities laid down in the Council of Europe Action Plan for Armenia for 2023- 2026 .

What do we expect to achieve?
  • The project adopts a multifaceted approach to protect the rights of affected Armenian children by offering legal and policy support aligned with Council of Europe standards;
  • The project focuses on strengthening the capacities of civil servants, focal points, and other professionals to effectively safeguard the rights of Armenian children impacted by the conflict, including those who are unaccompanied and separated;
  • The project aims to raise awareness among both children and parents about effective guardianship and the prevention of violence against children.
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