The Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) was established in 1950 by the United Nations General Assembly. The Agency is mandated to lead and coordinate international action to protect refugees and resolve refugee problems worldwide. The primary responsibility for protection of refugees rests with governments. UNHCR also has a mandate to help stateless people.
What is the role of UNHCR in Armenia?
Armenia is a party to the 1951 UN Convention relating to the Status of Refugees and the RA Government has assumed the responsibility for processing asylum claims. Consequently, formal applications for refugee status have to be made with the Migration Service (see the address here). This government entity will decide whether an applicant is eligible for being granted refugee status in Armenia.
In Armenia, therefore, UNHCR does not register refugees and does not issue them refugee documents. UNHCR’s role in Armenia focuses on supporting the Government to ensure quality asylum procedures and that it carries out its responsibilities vis-à-vis refugees and asylum-seekers in conformity with international law and standards. UNHCR assists asylum-seekers by making available through its partners social and legal counseling and representation. Moreover, UNHCR frequently monitors refugee status determination interviews and shares with the Government its position on international protection needs of asylum-seekers from specific countries and on legal issues.
UNHCR complements the Government efforts in meeting the basic needs of asylum-seekers, refugees and displaced populations and contributes to bridging assistance gaps in the fields of health, education and income-generation by way of projects implemented by its partners.
UNHCR also undertakes training of government officials and of NGO staff in addition to other key society actors.
UNHCR Armenia advocates for the improvement of national legal and policy framework through consultations and the provision of written comments.
Please note that the mandate of UNHCR Armenia does not include receipt and/or processing of asylum applications for asylum in other countries. For information on asylum procedures in other countries we kindly refer you to the embassies of the respective countries.
UNHCR Hotline – 0 8000 0025 – for Refugees, Asylum-Seekers, Stateless People and other Displaced Persons in Armenia
On the UNHCR Hotline the caller can receive latest information on the UN Refugee Agency’s assistance programmes for Refugees, Asylum-Seekers, Stateless People and other Displaced Persons in Armenia (including programs implemented by implementing partner organizations) and receive all relevant updated information on asylum procedures in Armenia.
The caller can also provide feedback (appreciation, complaints, recommendations) on the implemented programmes and work of the staff of the UN Refugee Agency or its partners.
All calls are free of charge: Monday-Friday, 9:00-18:00.
All services provided by UNHCR and its partners are free of charge.
Persons wishing to make a complaint about UNHCR or its partners may do so at UNHCR partners’ offices using standard complaint forms or at the UNHCR Armenia office complaint box, calling the Hotline or sending a complaint to [email protected] by addressing the UNHCR Representative, and/or through contacting the Inspector General’s Office at UNHCR headquarters via the website at https://www.unhcr.org/inspector-generals-office.html.
United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) in Armenia
Address: UN House, 14, Petros Adamyan St., Yerevan 0010, Armenia
Tel.: +374 10 56 47 71 (in case you know the extension of the person you are trying to reach), +374 10 54 59 36
E-mail: [email protected]; [email protected]
URL: http://www.unhcr.org