The LAS lawyers and consultants attended a one-day seminar on Legal Protection of Refugees, held with support of UNHCR. The training was led by the experts of UNHCR, the UN Association of Georgia and the Ministry of Internally Displaced Persons from the Occupied Territories, Accommodation and Refugees of Georgia.
Mr. Meliton Benidze, head of Legal Aid Service, opened the training. He made focus on a new commitment of the Service. In particular, from January 1, 2016 Legal Aid Service was committed to render representation to those foreigners who have a dispute with the Georgian authorities regarding granting of asylum or the refugee status. Georgia undertook this commitment in the framework of the EU Visa Liberalization Action Plan. UNHCR provides professional training of lawyers.
In the framework of the training, participants got introduced with national and international legislation regulating the issue of granting/cessation of asylum and the refugee status. They will discuss main principles of international protection of refugees, existing practice and challenges.