Programmes/projects 2009

In 2009, ARCS Population Movement direction continues the implementation of "Assistance to Asylum Seekers" project with a financial assistance of UNHCR Armenia, in the frameworks of which project beneficiaries are provided with financial, material, as well as medical, social assistance based on needs assessments results. Nearly 84 Asylum Seekers' families have been provided with assistance till October, 2009.

In the frameworks of the project weekly monitoring visits are conducted to the Reception Center for Asylum Seekers. Starting from June, 2009 with support and an official permission of RA National Security Service monitoring visits are conducted to "Zvartnots" International Airports, as well as monitoring visits carried out by ARCS Shirak, Syuniq, Tavush RB and Stepanavan TB representatives to RA 4 border crossing points - Gogavan, Bagratashen, Bavra and Meghri.

In November, 2009 ARCS Shirak, Syuniq, Tavush RBs, Stepanavan TB and UNHCR jointly organized trainings for border guards of the 4 border crossing points of RA - Gogavan, Bagratashen, Bavra, Meghri as well as Ayrum BCP aimed at border guards knowledge and awareness raising on RA Refugee Law.

ARCS, Armenian UN Association and International Youth Bridges Foundation jointly with Audio-Visual Journalists Association has launched "Youth against Trafficking" project since August, 2009. It is implemented by financial assistance of the Government of Norway and UNDP Anti-Trafficking Project.

The aim of the project is to raise awareness of Armenian population particularly the youth on trafficking through joint efforts of organizations acting in the field, as well as to provide the youth with corresponding knowledge and skills to fight against trafficking.

In the frameworks of the project a Pool of Trainers was formed from 30 young people who passed corresponding trainings on trafficking and National Referral Mechanism on victims of trafficking in 7-12 October, as well as gained knowledge on basic standards and conventions developed by the UN International Initiative of Fighting against Human Trafficking and presented at Vienna forum in 2007.

In the frameworks of "Youth against Trafficking" project 30 participants who passed the training organized projects in RA Armavir, Ararat, Kotayq, Shirak, Lori, Aragatsotn and Gegharquniq regions from 19 to 24 October.

Within the framework of "Youth against Trafficking" project a film was shot about National Referral Mechanism that will serve as an educational material on state bodies' cooperation and strategy for defending rights of trafficking victims.

www.antitrafficking.am web page was reconstructed and will periodically be updated in the frameworks of "Youth against Trafficking" campaign aimed at population awareness raising.

Additional information in brief

ARCS took part in the PERCO /Platform for European Red Cross So-operation on Refugees, Asylum Seekers and Migrants/ Annual meeting in Larnaca, Cyprus from 21 to 23 of October. Various presentations on the Migration and Asylum issues were done which gave participants an opportunity to become informed about current developments in the field of Migration Management and Human Rights Protection. A visit to the single Reception Center for Asylum Seekers in Cyprus was conducted with an aim to present Asylum System of Cyprus and EU approaches to the issue to the participants. During the meeting such issues as Resettlement, Irregular Migrants, Anti - Trafficking and Return was discussed and concrete recommendations on these questions were developed.

Responsible for Population Movement Direction of Armenian Red Cross Society took part at the Symposium titled "Working Together along the Migratory Trails - A Challenge for Red Cross/Red Crescent Societies" which took place from 11 to 14 November in Berlin, Germany. The Symposium was organized by joint efforts of German Red Cross, Swiss Red Cross and Austrian Red Cross Societies and with support of International Federation of Red Cross/Red Crescent Societies (IFRC) and PERCO network.

Such issues as Migration Policy of IFRC, Specific challenges when addressing family links and other protection needs of migrants, Refugee Protection and international migration - working towards protection sensitive migration strategies, Migratory trails: The recent work of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe, Access to migrants in countries of destination, Transit migrants in the Maghreb countries, Thematic Programme of Cooperation with Third Countries in the Area of Asylum and Migration and other actual themes were discussed during the Symposium.

Specific approaches and steps towards handling the Challenge of Working Together along the Migratory Trails were developed; specific deadlines and assignments for works were fixed.