2024-03-31 17:18:02
The new project “RAISE EU- Rights Awareness and Information Services for Enhancing EU Values” was officially launched, which aims to empower the beneficiaries of international protection and to inform and raise awareness among local and public bodies about the rights of refugees.
“RAISE EU” focuses on the daily multiple challenges faced by recognized refugees in accessing their individual and social rights as enshrined in international, European and national law.
The project, lasting 10 months (March 2024 – December 2024), is implemented by the International Rescue Committee – IRC Hellas in Athens and Thessaloniki, and by AMKE A.S.P.I.DA. in Ioannina, and takes place within the framework of the BUILD program of the Bodosaki Foundation in Greece in partnership with the NGO Support Center in Cyprus.
The main objective of the program is the empowerment and social and economic integration of recognized refugees, focusing on the one hand on informing them of their rights and obligations, which are related to their legal status, and on the other hand on informing and raising awareness of the services, which take care of their daily needs.
The activities of the project will contribute so that the beneficiaries of international protection acquire a clear knowledge of their rights and obligations, and be empowered to enjoy their individual and social rights equally, with a view to their smooth integration and inclusion in Greek society. Also, the project’s actions will contribute to the awareness and information of local and public bodies, which are related to the labor market and access to health and education structures, in order to understand the legal position of the recognized beneficiaries of international protection and the rights that derive from them from her.
The project includes the following activities:
1. Legal information meetings and optional provision of psychosocial support to recognized refugees with the aim of empowering and informing them about their rights and the values of the European Union.
2. Advocacy actions through bilateral meetings with local bodies and services and the organization of a round table with the participation of those responsible for drafting and implementing policy concerning beneficiaries of international protection.
3. Monitoring/supervision of legislative changes and publications on legislative developments.
4. Organization of a conference in Strasbourg for the exchange of good practices between Civil Society organizations and EU representatives.
The role of IRC Hellas will focus both on providing group legal information meetings to recognized refugees in Athens and Thessaloniki and on advocacy actions. AMKE A.S.P.I.DA will undertake legal information meetings for the recognized refugee population of the prefecture of Ioannina, will assist with psychosocial support services and will contribute to the advocacy-awareness actions of local agencies.
The “RAISE EU” project is implemented within the framework of the BUILD program, with the International Rescue Committee Hellas and AMKE A.S.P.I.DA as implementing bodies. The “Building a robust and democratic civic space” (BUILD) program aims to protect, promote and widely recognize the fundamental rights and values of the EU, through the support of Civil Society Organizations (CSOs) in Greece and Cyprus and strengthening their capacities and sustainability. BUILD is co-financed by the European Union, through the Citizens, Equality, Rights and Values (CERV) program, the Bodosaki Foundation and the Cyprus NGO Support Center with a total grant amount of 2.9 million euros. The coordinator of BUILD is the Bodosaki Foundation (Greece ) in partnership with the NGO Support Center (Cyprus).