Back Migration and Citizenship service enhances customer support through its new Call Centre

Migration and Citizenship service enhances customer support through its new Call Centre

Individuals with questions or concerns related to Armenian citizenship, documentation procedures, or services provided to foreign nationals now have a reliable and responsive point of contact. The Migration and Citizenship Service of Armenia has officially launched its first-ever public Call Centre — a significant institutional milestone that transforms how displaced persons and citizens access essential information and services in Armenia.

Operational since December 2024, the Call Centre is a result of successful co-operation between the Migration and Citizenship Service and the Council of Europe project Strengthening human rights safeguards for the displaced population in Armenia.  

This innovation addresses a critical need, as the absence of an accessible communication channel became one of the key challenges faced by the refugees seeking clarity on their legal rights and documentation. The establishment of the Call Centre effectively closes that gap by providing a centralised, professional service that efficiently handles a wide range of inquiries from both citizens and displaced individuals.

Schnutz DÜRR, Head of Programming Department at the Directorate of Programme Coordination of the Council of Europe and Nelly DAVTYAN, Head of the Migration and Citizenship Service of the Republic of Armenia opened the event, highlighting that “There is often talk about high-level concepts, migration strategies, and tools for more effective migration management. I am often asked how citizens can experience these reforms directly, and I emphasize how much work goes on behind the scenes before reforms reach the level of service delivery. A vivid example of this is the creation of the Call Centre, based on citizen-centered approaches, the immediate and direct beneficiary of which is our population”.

Mr Schnutz Dürr, Head of the Programming Department at the Directorate of Programme Coordination of the Council of Europe, highlighted the establishment of the Call Centre as a significant achievement for the refugees. “The Council of Europe responded quickly to the refugee influx back in 2023 by adapting its projects as quickly as possible, with a strong focus on supporting refugees. This centre is also part of that effort", said Mr Dürr.

The public can now contact the Migration and Citizenship Service directly by calling 84-22, a dedicated number that brings the institution within easy reach of everyone in need of accurate, timely migration-related information.

***

The project Strengthening human rights safeguards for the displaced population in Armenia is a part of the comprehensive response package to the refugee influx in Armenia worth a total of €2.8 million. The package is the result of a visit by the Special Representative of the Secretary General on Migration and Refugees from 11 to 13 October 2023, during which specific areas for support that are in line with the Council of Europe's Action Plan for Armenia (2023-2026) and the Action Plan on Protecting Vulnerable Persons in the Context of Migration and Asylum (2021-2025) were jointly identified with the national authorities. The project supports Armenian authorities in addressing the needs of displaced persons and refugees. It also aims to facilitate access to information on rights and available services for displaced persons, ensuring they are well-informed about their entitlements and available support.

*Following the Council of Europe Secretary General’s decision to consolidate the migration-related activities of the Organisation, the implementation of the Action Plan on Protecting Vulnerable Persons in the Context of Migration and Asylum (2021-2025) is ensured by the Division on Migration and Refugees (DMR), created within the Directorate General of Human Rights and Rule of Law (DGI).

 
MIGRATION AND CITIZENSHIP SERVICE OF ARMENIA YEREVAN, ARMENIA 14 APRIL 2025
  • Diminuer la taille du texte
  • Augmenter la taille du texte
  • Imprimer la page
What is the goal and objective of the project?

This project aims to provide tailored support to Armenian authorities in addressing the needs of displaced persons and refugees, with a specific emphasis on strengthening human rights institutions, particularly the Human Rights Defender’s Office and the Migration and Citizenship Service of the Ministry of Internal Affairs.

The project's primary emphasis is to accompany the authorities towards operating with an advanced legislative and policy framework related to displaced persons, ensuring that the letter enjoy basic human rights per the European Convention on Human Rights and other European standards. It also focuses on enhancing the capacity of legal professionals, relevant national authorities, and civil society organisations to respond effectively to the needs of the displaced population. Furthermore, the project aims to facilitate access to information on rights and available services for displaced persons, ensuring they are well-informed about their entitlements and available support.

 Start date: December 2023

 Duration: 30 months

 Funding: EUR 1,000,000, Council of Europe Action Plan for Armenia for 2023- 2026

Main Partners: Ministry of Justice, Migration and Citizenship Service of the Ministry of Internal Affairs, Human Rights Defender’s Office

Contact person: Ms Tamara Barbakadze, Project Manager

 

Who benefits from the project?
  • Ministry of Justice
  • Migration and Citizenship Service of the Ministry of Internal Affairs
  • Human Rights Defender’s Office
  • general public
How does the project work?

The cooperation project will be carried out in line with the priorities laid down in the Council of Europe Action Plan for Armenia 2023-2026 through:  

  • tailored legislative and policy actions
  • capacity building of civil servants, legal professionals, and civil society organisations
  • raising awareness of the rights and available services for displaced persons
What do we expect to achieve?
  • National authorities operate with advanced legislative and policy framework, related to the displaced persons, and deriving from the need to address certain challenges.
  •  Legal professionals, relevant national authorities and civil society organisations operate with enhanced capacity while responding to the needs of the displaced population.
  •  Access to information on the rights and available services is facilitated for the displaced persons.