With the support of the UNHCR Office in Serbia, the Belgrade Centre for Human Rights (BCHR) presented a new publication “A Year of Temporary Protection in the Republic of Serbia: Comparative Analysis and Recommendations”.
According to UNHCR’s data, over eight million people have fled the international armed conflict in Ukraine and sought refuge in other European countries. With a view to reducing pressure on the EU Member States’ asylum systems of the EU Member States in situations of mass influx of refugees from Ukraine, the EU Council activated, for the first time, the 2001 Temporary Protection Directive. The temporary protection mechanism introduces simplified procedures for granting temporary protection and access to guaranteed rights to persons fleeing Ukraine.
The Government of the Republic of Serbia (RS) followed EU’s suit and adopted a decision activating the temporary protection mechanism on 17 March 2022. Ever since, the BCHR has, in executive partnership with the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), been extending free legal aid and integration assistance to individuals granted temporary protection and has had the opportunity to identify specific good practices, as well as shortcomings in the national legislative framework and access to rights.
The publication, “One Year since the Activation of the Temporary Protection Mechanism in the Republic of Serbia: Comparative Analysis and Recommendations“ is based on an analysis of the national legislative framework and a comparative analysis of domestic and EU law, in particular the EU Temporary Protection Directive.
The publication is followed by an analysis of the application of the temporary protection mechanism through access to rights enshrined in the Serbian Asylum and Temporary Protection Law, such as the rights to work, education, healthcare, et al. In early 2023, the authors of the publication conducted a survey of persons granted temporary protection to gain insight in the process of application of this legal mechanism. Finally, we formulated our recommendations to draw attention to specific deficiencies in order to improve the situation of refugees in the RS through open dialogue.
This event was an opportunity to discuss the possibilities of joining efforts to advance practices and future cooperation. We primarily wish to make concerted impacts and contribute to advancing policies and improving the lives of the people we are working with. We hope that the findings in our publication will provide guidance and assistance not only to experts and state authorities charged with facilitating the exercise of rights conferred on persons granted temporary protection, but also to all those committed to the improve the status of refugees.
The publication in English is available HERE.
