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Description
The project aims to implement a wide strategy defending the rights of migrants and asylum seekers by conducting monitoring visits in the places of detention and gathering data, compiling an analytical study assessing the state’s response to the crisis and offering human rights based solutions, regular advocacy representing the rights and interests of migrants and asylum seekers, public communication, strategic litigation and measures designed to respond to emotional support needs of this target group. The purpose of the project is to ensure effective implementation of the rights of migrants and asylum seekers by emphasizing the human element, and the compliance of regulation, public policy and practice with international refugee law and human rights law standards. The project will humanize the public discourse towards migrants and asylum seekers and prevent the entrenchment of negative public attitudes towards this group, whereas evidence-based advocacy and strategic litigation will help correct the flaws of the current regulation, policies and practices. The guide on provision of emotional support, designed for specialists working with migrants and asylum seekers, will lay firm and evidence based grounds for continuous awareness raising, research and recommendations in this still relatively new area in Lithuania. The project will contribute towards theincreasing society’s respect to human rights and the principle of equal treatment, support positive changes in the area of human rights protection and improve compliance with international human rights standards. The project will also address such programme’s priorities as closing the gap between the legislation and its practical implementation by initiating strategic cases, monitoring and publicising human rights violations, as well as the activity of defence of human rights,
including advocacy campaigns to support the rights of migrants and refugees.
Summary of project results
The project aimed to address the humanitarian and human rights challenges facing Lithuania in 2021, when the number of migrants and asylum seekers crossing or attempting to cross the Lithuanian-Belarusian border increased dramatically.
The main activities in this project included a strategy for the protection of the rights of migrants and asylum seekers in detention, including monitoring in detention facilities and data collection, the preparation of an analytical study assessing the State''s response to the crisis and proposing human rights-compatible solutions, advocacy on behalf of the rights and interests of PSPs, public communication, strategic litigation and measures to respond to PSPs'' emotional support needs.
The main target group of the project is LMPs of different ages, genders and nationalities, detained in the territory of Lithuania. The project aimed to communicate the situation of this group in a sensitive way to the public and decision-makers, proposing concrete solutions to the problems, and to change the dehumanised perception of this group in society and in the authorities. In addition, the strategic cases raised key issues in asylum law and its application. The aim was to develop an objective, impartial judicial assessment and practice based on international and national law. The second target group was decision-makers and policy-makers at various levels, who, in the framework of this project, were informed about an alternative, more human rights-respecting approach to the problems caused by the sharp increase in the number of LMPs. They also learnt how to respond to the security needs of the public without shielding the situation and without exaggerating the MPP as a threat narrative.