UNHCR and Chamber of Advocates sign agreement to strengthen cooperation in improving accessibility and quality of free legal aid for asylum-seekers and refugees in Armenia

Recently, the UNHCR Representative in Armenia, Ms. Anna-Carin Öst, and the Chairman of the Chamber of Advocates of Armenia, Mr. Simon Babayan, signed a multi-year partnership agreement to kick off a project aimed at strengthening the access to and the quality of state-funded legal aid services for asylum-seekers and refugees in Armenia, by way of expert support and technical assistance.

During the official signing ceremony, the Chairman of the Chamber of Advocates, Mr. Simon Babayan, highlighted the importance of the strengthened partnership allowing to further improve the mechanisms for the protection of the rights of displaced persons.

Stressing the importance of the legal aid in the context of ensuring quality asylum system, the UNHCR Representative, Ms. Anna-Carin Öst, expressed her appreciation to the Chairman and his team for prioritising provision of legal services to asylum-seekers and refugees in line with the international standards.

The project, which will be implemented in the framework of the “Strengthening Migration Management Capacities to Support the Government Reform Agenda in line with CEPA” project co-funded by the European Union, will focus on strengthening the capacity of the Public Defender’s Office operating within the Chamber of Advocates, raising the awareness of asylum-seekers on state-funded legal aid services, and improving referrals and coordination between the national stakeholders concerned.