Donor: European Commission, Brussels
Duration of the project: January 2006 – December 2009
Croatian Law Centre (HPC) was main administrator of this project. The project is aimed to the strengthening the protection in Croatia and region (Bosnia and Herzegovina, Serbia and Montenegro) by developing an asylum system consistent with international standards. Target groups were: asylum seekers, actors involved in the asylum issues, young people and NGOs in target countries. Main activities were focused on the drafting, implementation and ensuring the effectiveness of national legislations (monitoring of the implementation of law, amendments submitted, free legal aid provided, actors involved in asylum issues educated, border monitoring mechanism proposed), on regional cooperation (regional network of non-governmental organizations developed and regional dialogue and exchange of knowledge and experiences in asylum issues established), and on elimination of prejudice and stereotypes with respect to asylum-seekers (journalists educated, youth sensitised, information campaigns carried out). The project also enhanced the application of international standards in legislation and law enforcement; increased the level of knowledge and accountability of actors involved in asylum issues; improved border-monitoring mechanisms; contributed to the development of regional cooperation and promote human rights standards in general.
Belgrade Centre was involved in this project because according to the EU experts opinion, the progress of Serbia in the field of asylum was essential. The federal Asylum Act was adopted in March, 2005 and was designed as an umbrella law, containing the main principles of international law regarding the right to seek and enjoy asylum. It is expected that members states adopt their own statues regulating the proceedings for obtaining the asylum, the organs in charge as well as rights and duties of those who seek or enjoy asylum. The Montenegrin Draft Asylum Act was at that time completed, but drafting of Serbian statute was still under way. In 2006 still there was not shelter for asylum seekers in Serbia and Montenegro.
Centre was involved in compiling relevant legal and other documents, judicial practice and policies in the field of asylum, developing the policy proposal and amendments to laws and by-laws, preparing data for the composing of the country reports/needs assessment, participating in the creation of a database and publishing of a quarterly regional newsletter, preparing the report on the legislation and practice in the field of asylum in Bosnia and Herzegovina, Croatia and Serbia and Montenegro. Belgrade Centre contributed in the project by making the assessment on asylum law and policy and producing the report on the legislation and practice in the filed of asylum for the year 2006 and 2007 on Serbian. There one Policy Paper in English.
During the project web database was provided and the Belgrade Centre made selection of the relevant instruments, case law and national documents, necessary information. Centre made the compilation of a questionnaire on the national legislation and practice regarding the situation with the border procedures, selected the national trainers for the participation at the training for trainers in November 2006, who were teaching at the national seminar in 2007, participated at the seminars organised by the HPC for target groups in Croatia, as well as participation at the training organised by Peace Institute and Legal Information Centre. Finally Centre organized one border-monitoring training seminar for police officers in Serbia (Fruska Gora), with previously selected and trained lecturers.
