UNHCR has maintained a close cooperation with various government authorities in the area of refugees’ and stateless persons’ protection, prevention of statelessness and since 2014 also in the area of IDP protection.
In the area of asylum, UNHCR maintains close cooperation with the below listed key partners. The cooperation includes, inter alia, the capacity development activities in the framework of the UNHCR project “Asylum Systems Quality Initiative in Eastern Europe and South Caucasus” (QIEE) covering six countries in the region: Armenia, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Moldova and Ukraine:
Ministry of Interior (MoI)
During recent years, UNHCR has enhanced its cooperation with the MoI. The MoI strategic priorities are closely linked to UNHCR’s strategic priorities, notably their supervision of the migration related activities in Ukraine and the development of the migration related policies and legislation.
State Migration Service (SMS)
The Department on Foreigners and Stateless Persons of the State Migration Service is the main counterpart of UNHCR in Ukraine. SMS was established in 2010 as a government institution coordinated by the Minister of Interior. Through SMS, the Minister implements the state migration policy on combating illegal migration, citizenship, registration of refugees and other categories of migrants. The SMS is responsible for the implementation of the Refugee Law. SMS’s headquarters in Kyiv coordinate the work of 12 regional branches that examine first instance refugee determination status. UNHCR has close working relations with the central and regional offices of the SMS.
State Border Guards Service (SBGS)
Through UNHCR’s active support, in particular during the cooperation under a number of projects in 2010 -2015, the main international airports, border-crossing points and temporary holding facilities are equipped with information stands on asylum. The official curriculum for the human rights training of border guard officials was developed jointly with UNHCR. UNHCR continued to involve SBGS into training and coordination events related to asylum during 2015-2017, including at the regional level through the QIEE events.
System of Administrative courts
Following many years of very close and successful cooperation with the Higher Administrative Court of Ukraine and the National School for Judges, UNHCR has already established a cooperation with the newly reformed Supreme Court of Ukraine in the areas pertaining to UNHCR’s mandate. The forms of cooperation involve, inter alia, the organization of workshops and seminars for judges dealing with asylum cases in the administrative courts of Ukraine.
Coordination Center for Legal Aid Provision
A free legal aid system was established in Ukraine on 2 June 2011, following the adoption of the law of Ukraine “On Free Legal Aid” with the Coordination Center for Legal Aid Provision created in 2012. Since then, UNHCR has been actively engaged in providing support to their staff and advocates collaborating with the Center. In 2018, UNHCR developed a comprehensive plan detailing areas of collaboration and coordination between the Center and UNHCR as well as activities aiming at strengthening their capacity to handle asylum, statelessness and displacement related cases.
Ukrainian Parliament Commissioner for Human Rights
The Ombudsperson for Human Rights is a critical partner, as the specific situation of IDPs, refugees and stateless persons is integrated into the National Human Rights Strategy of Ukraine. For a number of years, UNHCR has been collaborating with the Ombudsperson’s Office, from the referral of individual cases to the organization of joint events. Preventing and combating discrimination is also part of the oversight role of the Ombudsperson for Human Rights and a cross-cutting concern for UNHCR.