The Council of Europe Projects “Facilitating access to human rights and essential services for internally displaced persons and returnees at the community level” and “Youth for Democracy in Ukraine: Phase III” launched a long-term programme on “Trauma-informed approach in the context of access to human rights and essential services for IDPs and returnees”.
The first training of trainers for 24 youth workers, psychologists, and social workers from 13 regions of Ukraine took place in August.
The Programme is also designed to be an important empowering process for the participants, as many of them are IDPs themselves.
As a result of the Programme the trainers will apply trauma-informed approach to their activities and consultations for IDPs and returnees. This will improve the quality of social and legal services as well as strengthen resilience and social cohesion in host communities.
The Council of Europe Project “Youth for Democracy in Ukraine: Phase III” translated and adapted into Ukrainian the Resilience Journal for Adolescents.
The publication was developed by the Council of Europe Project “Strengthening the protection of the human rights of refugees and migrants in the Republic of Moldova” to address the issues that young refugees from Ukraine face in the country.
The Journal aims at developing confidence and self-respect among young migrants as well as at facilitating their emotions and practicing communication skills.
Education professionals and social workers in Ukraine and Moldova, who tested the Journal, underline that it is also effective when applying to a wider group of children and young people beyond the ones who experienced forced displacement.
In Armenia, the Council of Europe carried on with psychological support activities for refugee healthcare professionals
The phycological support aims at tackling the experience of healthcare professionals as frontline workers, as well as address the challenges in adaptation to the new environment. A group of refugee healthcare professionals participated in the training session focused on building efficient doctor-patient relationships. The topics of the training included effective communication methods, preconditions to effective communication, emotional literacy and its role in achieving successful relationship. As a result of the training participants acquired tools to address difficulties arising during interaction with difficult patients, and at the same time strengthened the ability to identify their own emotions and deal with their own complex feelings on the way of integration.
The Council of Europe Office in Yerevan, in partnership with the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) Representation in Armenia, and the Centre for European Studies at Yerevan State University, successfully organised a Certificate Award Ceremony for participants of the pilot HELP course on “Refugee and Migrant children”. The course provided participants with vital skills, including legal protection for refugee and migrant children, child-friendly procedures, social rights, family reunification, and guardianship. These skills are essential for addressing the challenges refugee and migrant children face, such as trauma, interrupted education, and loss of home and security. The event highlighted the importance of collaboration between international organizations, local authorities, and civil society to ensure children's rights are safeguarded.
A delegation from the Armenian Office of the Human Rights Defender visited the Council of Europe institutions in Strasbourg and the Defender of Rights of France in Paris to discuss refugee protection standards and relevant judgements of the European Court of Human Rights. Key topics included lessons from Ukraine's displacement, healthcare access for refugees and migrants, and eliminating discrimination. The visit deepened understanding and collaboration on refugee issues, aiding Armenia in improving its human rights system and refugee protection strategies.
Four Armenian communities are awarded grants to implement projects that help build resilience and respond to their urgent and mid-term needs in support of refugees, ensuring protection of their human rights and overcoming challenges related to education, social services and integration.
Four projects funded by the Council of Europe, implemented by Armenian CSOs, promoted the inclusion of refugee women by offering vocational training, art therapy, trauma recovery, and business collaboration. These initiatives empowered over 500 women across Armenia, fostering economic independence, gender equality, and community support.
