The Signing Ceremony of the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on Commitment to Cooperation between the Representation of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) in Armenia and the Academy of Justice non-commercial organisation and took place on 9 March 2016 at the Academy of Justice. The MoU was signed by Mr. Christoph Bierwirth, UNHCR Representative, and Mr. Ruben Melikyan, Rector of the Academy of Justice. Representatives of the Armenian government, civil society, local and international organisations and NGO-s were present at the event.
Emphasising the importance of bilateral cooperation, Mr. Ruben Melikyan, the Rector of the Academy of Justice, mentioned: ‘’UNHCR and Academy of Justice are determined to assume a closer cooperation to strengthen the role of the judiciary in protection of asylum-seekers, refugees, stateless persons and other persons in need of protection in the Republic of Armenia, particularly, through organisation of trainings for judges, prosecutors, and investigators. The Academy intends to develop and introduce intramural and extramural training courses on the mentioned subjects.’’
In his opening remarks, the UNHCR Representative in Armenia, Mr. Christoph Bierwirth, acknowledged the progress made in the development of the Armenian asylum system and the role Armenia plays in offering protection to persons displaced due to the conflict in Syria. He expressed: “As the basic asylum institution building process has been concluded, our capacity building, as well as, training and technical assistance efforts move now towards the adjustment of capacities to evolving needs and to further improvement of the quality of decision making.”
Mr. Bierwirth emphasised the important role of the judiciary in securing States’ adherence to international obligations undertaken as related to the protection of refugees and in ensuring respect of the rights of refugees, other displaced or stateless populations. He noted that the role of the judiciary covers several spheres of law and tasks, including the review of first instance status determination decisions, ensuring the principle of non-penalisation of refugees for illegal border-crossing under certain circumstances, access to documentation and social services. He concluded: “The signing of a Memorandum of Understanding between the Academy of Justice and UNHCR is an important step in further enhancing the Armenian refugee protection system as it will systematise our cooperation and will strengthen the Courts’ capacities to fulfill their related ‘check and balance’ functions”.
The MoU between the Academy of Justice and UNHCR symbolises the joint effort to strengthen the protection of refugees, asylum-seekers, other displaced populations, and of stateless persons in Armenia by joining expertise, enhanced cooperation and coordination and use of synergy potentials. A study program in international and domestic law regarding refugees and stateless persons is expected to be incorporated into the 2016-2017 curriculum of the Academy of Justice.
The fundamental ground for the MoU is the 2015 – 2017 ‘’Quality Initiative in Eastern Europe and South Caucasus’’ regional project which aims at improving the asylum space and methods of offering protection to refugees and asylum-seekers in the region. With a specific focus on refugee status determination in line with the international standards, the Project will help specify and eliminate the challenges observed at various levels, including, the judiciary which provides an essential safeguard in assuring the quality of decision-making by asylum authorities.
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