Strengthening Asylum: Difference between revisions
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|coordinator=<br>[[Yiannis Laouris]]<br> | |coordinator=<br>[[Yiannis Laouris]]<br> | ||
[[Corina Drousiotou]]<br> | [[Corina Drousiotou]]<br> | ||
|funding_agency=[[UN High Commission for Refugees]] | |||
|total_cost=2006: 89,499.96<br> | |||
2007:€80,553.72<br> | 2007:€80,553.72<br> | ||
2008:€120,976.10<br> | 2008:€120,976.10<br> | ||
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==Overall Objective== | ==Overall Objective== | ||
Strengthening Asylum is implemented by the non-governmental organisation Future Worlds Center since May 2006, and is funded by the UNHCR Representation in Cyprus. The project gives us the responsibility to work towards strengthening the asylum system in the Republic of Cyprus, and assisting asylum seekers during the asylum procedure, as well as refugees, residing in Cyprus under international protection. | Strengthening Asylum is implemented by the non-governmental organisation [[Future Worlds Center]] since May 2006, and is funded by the UNHCR Representation in Cyprus. The project gives us the responsibility to work towards strengthening the asylum system in the Republic of Cyprus, and assisting asylum seekers during the asylum procedure, as well as refugees, residing in Cyprus under international protection. | ||
The project offers free legal and social advice to asylum seekers and persons under international protection. Its main objective is to ensure that beneficiaries have access to a fair and efficient asylum procedure, while they can enjoy the rights they are entitled to according to national, European, and International law. | The project offers free legal and social advice to asylum seekers and persons under international protection. Its main objective is to ensure that beneficiaries have access to a fair and efficient asylum procedure, while they can enjoy the rights they are entitled to according to national, European, and International law. | ||
The team implementing the project consists of two Legal Advisors and one Social Advisor who offer individual consultation to the beneficiaries, and a Public Information Officer who seeks to raise awareness within the Cypriot community on refugee and asylum matters. | The team implementing the project consists of two Legal Advisors and one Social Advisor who offer individual consultation to the beneficiaries, and a Public Information Officer who seeks to raise awareness within the Cypriot community on refugee and asylum matters. | ||
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* URVT Project (slide – hyperlink to http://www.urvt.org/ ) | * URVT Project (slide – hyperlink to http://www.urvt.org/ ) | ||
The Unit for the Rehabilitation of Victims of Torture (URVT) is a project that aims to support and promote the empowerment and rehabilitation of torture victims and victims of trafficking who are asylum seekers or persons granted with international protection status in Cyprus and to assist them to integrate into the local society. To that end it takes a holistic approach, offering legal advice and social assistance directly to the persons of concern and their families, as well as referring them for medical and psychological care, . Its services are facilitated through a structure designed on the standards of the Istanbul Protocol - United Nations Manual on the Effective Investigation and Documentation of Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment - and its services are offered to the beneficiaries by specialised, experienced and well-trained personnel. In addition, URVT functions in association to a network of volunteer service providers, medical professionals, and interpreters. | The [[Unit for the Rehabilitation of Victims of Torture]] (URVT) is a project that aims to support and promote the empowerment and rehabilitation of torture victims and victims of trafficking who are asylum seekers or persons granted with international protection status in Cyprus and to assist them to integrate into the local society. To that end it takes a holistic approach, offering legal advice and social assistance directly to the persons of concern and their families, as well as referring them for medical and psychological care, . Its services are facilitated through a structure designed on the standards of the Istanbul Protocol - United Nations Manual on the Effective Investigation and Documentation of Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment - and its services are offered to the beneficiaries by specialised, experienced and well-trained personnel. In addition, URVT functions in association to a network of volunteer service providers, medical professionals, and interpreters. | ||
URVT operates under the Humanitarian Affairs Unit of the Future Worlds Center. One of the most important beliefs of the Future Worlds Center is that by befriending and understanding people of different cultures, backgrounds, and experiences, the future world becomes a better place. | URVT operates under the Humanitarian Affairs Unit of the Future Worlds Center. One of the most important beliefs of the Future Worlds Center is that by befriending and understanding people of different cultures, backgrounds, and experiences, the future world becomes a better place. | ||
For more information visit the Future Worlds Center wiki website http://www.futureworlds.eu/wiki/Good_practice_%28Torture_Victims%29 | For more information visit the Future Worlds Center wiki website http://www.futureworlds.eu/wiki/Good_practice_%28Torture_Victims%29 | ||
* Psychological support for torture victims | * Psychological support for torture victims | ||
We are collaborating with the Centre for Therapy Training and Research (KESY) in an effort to offer support to victims of torture. Our collaboration has been a reaction to the fact that at present there is no free psychological support provided by the state authorities to victims of torture. | We are collaborating with the Centre for Therapy Training and Research ([[KESY]]) in an effort to offer support to victims of torture. Our collaboration has been a reaction to the fact that at present there is no free psychological support provided by the state authorities to victims of torture. | ||
In the last years, several projects offering such services run by NGOs have been terminated and as a result many people who were receiving psychological support have been abruptly left without any support. | In the last years, several projects offering such services run by NGOs have been terminated and as a result many people who were receiving psychological support have been abruptly left without any support. | ||
KESY offers free psychological support to victims of torture referred by the Future Worlds Center team. Students completing the practicum of the Master’s in Clinical Psychology, who are in turn supervised by experienced professionals, are offering these services. | KESY offers free psychological support to victims of torture referred by the Future Worlds Center team. Students completing the practicum of the Master’s in Clinical Psychology, who are in turn supervised by experienced professionals, are offering these services. | ||
* Fleeing Homophobia | * [[Fleeing Homophobia]] | ||
Corina Drousiotou, our senior Legal Advisor, was the national representative of Cyprus for the research project carried out by the VU Amsterdam University and the Federation of Dutch Associations for the Integration of Homosexuality, COC Netherlands. The subject of the project was “Fleeing Homophobia. Seeking Safety in Europe. Best Practices on the Legal Position of LGBTI (Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Intersex) Asylum Seekers in the EU Member States”. | [[Corina Drousiotou]], our senior Legal Advisor, was the national representative of Cyprus for the research project carried out by the VU Amsterdam University and the Federation of Dutch Associations for the Integration of Homosexuality, COC Netherlands. The subject of the project was “Fleeing Homophobia. Seeking Safety in Europe. Best Practices on the Legal Position of LGBTI (Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Intersex) Asylum Seekers in the EU Member States”. | ||
The project was funded by the European Refugee Fund and the Dutch Ministry of Justice. In order to gather all the necessary information, 26 asylum law experts wrote a report on the situation of LGBTI asylum seekers in their own country. Within the scope of the project, a final conference was organised in the Netherlands, as well as seven regional-national meetings in Sweden, Finland, Poland, Italy, Austria, France, Malta, and Cyprus. | The project was funded by the European Refugee Fund and the Dutch Ministry of Justice. In order to gather all the necessary information, 26 asylum law experts wrote a report on the situation of LGBTI asylum seekers in their own country. Within the scope of the project, a final conference was organised in the Netherlands, as well as seven regional-national meetings in Sweden, Finland, Poland, Italy, Austria, France, Malta, and Cyprus. | ||
The Future Worlds Center, being the national representative for Cyprus on the project, organised a national seminar-training on LGBTI asylum seekers in Cyprus, in collaboration with UNHCR Cyprus, which was attended by eligibility officers of both the status determining authorities in Cyprus, the Asylum Service, and the Refugee Reviewing Authority. | The Future Worlds Center, being the national representative for Cyprus on the project, organised a national seminar-training on LGBTI asylum seekers in Cyprus, in collaboration with UNHCR Cyprus, which was attended by eligibility officers of both the status determining authorities in Cyprus, the Asylum Service, and the Refugee Reviewing Authority. | ||
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* European Refugee Fund Community Actions project | * European Refugee Fund Community Actions project | ||
The Future Worlds Center has been a partner in a European Refugee Fund Community Actions project, for the promotion and dissemination of good practice in addressing specific needs of vulnerable groups – especially victims of torture and human rights violations. | The Future Worlds Center has been a partner in a [[European Refugee Fund]] Community Actions project, for the promotion and dissemination of good practice in addressing specific needs of vulnerable groups – especially victims of torture and human rights violations. | ||
The project was based on a transnational in-depth study and evaluation of working and treatment methods, and it run under the German Association of Psychological Centers for Refugees and Victims of Torture (BAFF). The project was funded by the European Commission’s European Refugee Fund Community Actions 2009. | The project was based on a transnational in-depth study and evaluation of working and treatment methods, and it run under the German Association of Psychological Centers for Refugees and Victims of Torture (BAFF). The project was funded by the European Commission’s European Refugee Fund Community Actions 2009. | ||
