DUSHANBE, March 28, Asia-Plus — The European Union and the UN Refugee Agency (UNHCR) have completed their 21-month project on strengthening asylum systems and improving refugee protection in Central Asia.
Ms Madina Bakieva, EC Delegation Press and Information Officer, said that the project had helped governments of the region improve asylum legislation and practices and bring them closer to international standards.
The region of Central Asia is experiencing significant population movements, both as transit and recipient region for migrants and refugees. The EU-UNHCR project with the overall budget of 1,154,000 EUR aimed to include refugee protection mechanisms in a broader framework of the migration management in Central Asia and help government to effectively respond to asylum flows with respect to human rights. It has targeted four main components: strengthening capacity of national authorities, raising general knowledge and awareness, encouraging civil society involvement and regional networking and information sharing.
To support the national governments and civil societies in establishment of asylum system the project has provided computer and technical equipment, IT databases and training courses to various offices in four Central Asian countries, both at national and local levels. About hundred of partner institutions, including Ministries, immigration offices, registration committees, prosecutors, ombudsmen and NGOs have received assistance. Capacity of authorities has been also enhanced through a series of training seminars, a study tour to an European country, and regional conferences. Government experts were offered direct access to expertise and best practices of EU countries, including in drafting the legislation.
In order to provide asylum seekers with temporary shelter, access to legal help and information, the project helped to establish two refugee reception centers at the Turkmen-Uzbek border and in Bishkek. The existing non-governmental network of legal clinics throughout the region has been supported and expanded, especially those in border regions. As a result, hundreds of refugees in Central Asia were given the opportunity to consult lawyers free of charge. The project has also promoted a wider involvement of volunteers and students into the work of clinics, further developing non-governmental mechanisms aimed at assisting asylum seekers in the region.
Significant attention was paid to the building of essential knowledge on refugee issues, developing relevant university curricula and promoting inter-regional networking between educational and academic circles. The efforts have resulted in a number of successful outcomes, including the signature of a Memorandum of Understanding with Kyrgyz universities on introduction of refugee law courses into their curricula. Regional and central libraries and universities in four Central Asian countries have received computer equipment, training and information support to further promote the general awareness on asylum standards and practices.
The project was concluded by a regional conference in Astana on March 19 which brought together about 30 representatives of four Central Asia countries. Participants have discussed the achieved results and prospects for their future co-operation. While noting the progress in the field, all parties unanimously agreed that continued support in further consolidation of the asylum system in the region is important.
