On 11 March a workshop on refugee rights under the European Convention on Human Rights was held to examine the extent of protection that the Convention offers to refugees and migrants. The discussion focused on the legal safeguards provided by the Convention and the role of the European Court of Human Rights in ensuring that refugees' rights are upheld from their arrival in a host country to the challenges they face in daily life.

The workshop brought together representatives from the Human Rights Defender’s Office, the Migration and Citizenship Service, the Chamber of Advocates, UNHCR, and civil society organisations and served as a platform for dialogue and knowledge-sharing.

This workshop built on a discussion organised in 2024 with civil society representatives on key topics like non-refoulement (the prohibition of returning individuals to countries where they may face serious harm), the right to life, and the prohibition of ill-treatment. As a result, CSOs are now better equipped to provide consultations to their beneficiaries, with non-refoulement principle increasingly understood and communicated among displaced communities.

At the workshop today, the participants engaged in an in-depth discussion on key issues affecting refugees, including border access, family reunification, detention conditions, and protection from trafficking. These topics were analysed through the lens of significant rulings of the European Court of Human Rights that have shaped European human rights standards.

 Deputy Head of the Migration and Citizenship Service of the Ministry of Internal Affairs of RA, Ms. Irina Davtyan highlighted the importance of the topic: "Today, due to the increased number of conflicts, the number of people who are seeking protection is also increasing. The solution to their problem essentially lies in the gap between the sovereignty of states and their obligations in the field of human rights protection. In this regard, it was especially interesting to get acquainted with the judgments of the European Court of Human Rights on ensuring the legal guarantees provided by the European Convention on Human Rights, discussing them from different perspectives, while also noting the fact that in many cases, when making decisions related to this area, states are guided by both political and economic considerations."

One of the central themes of the workshop was the importance of state compliance with obligations under the European Convention on Human Rights, with a strong emphasis on practical application in the Armenian context.

The workshop enhanced participants' knowledge and strengthened their practical skills in applying ECHR standards in legal counseling, case handling, and co-operation with state institutions, which will further lead to more effective support for beneficiaries.

This event was organised by the Council of Europe Action Plan project “Strengthening human rights safeguards for the displaced population in Armenia”.