MAPPING AND STUDY OF THE NEEDS OF PERSONS UNDER INTERNATIONAL PROTECTION, ASYLUM-SEEKERS, STATELESS AND STATELESS APPLICANTS, REGARDING ACCESSIBILITY TO THEIR RIGHTS AND SERVICE

12 Jul 2019

The goal of the given research was to identify the fundamental needs of the Persons of Concern - individuals under international protection, asylum seekers, stateless persons and stateless applicants - as well as mapping of accessible social and health care services of PoC.

Based on the goal of the research, the following objectives have been set:

1. Mapping and evaluation of social and legal services available in the target regions that the government and NGOs provide to the PoC. 
2. Evaluation of the general situation as regards the rights of the target groups, the roles and responsibilities of the key stakeholders including governmental and non-governmental entities.
3. Profiling the target population with a consideration of age, gender, status, ethnicity, nationality, current place of residence, etc.
4. Identification of the needs of the target groups in relation to their fundamental rights (economic, social, and cultural rights include the right to work, the right to an adequate standard of living, including food, clothing, and housing, the right to physical and mental health, the right to social security, the right to a healthy environment, and the right to education).
5. Research of key factors that hinder integration and community involvement of PoC, and possible options for problem-solving. 

   Within the framework of the study, 9 in-depth interviews and 8 focus group discussions have been held. The focus group participants included refugees, persons with humanitarian status, stateless persons, asylum-seekers and stateless applicants. In total 59 PoC have been selected to participate in the focus group discussions. Five of the focus group discussions were held in Tbilisi (40 PoC), one in Martkopi (9 PoC), one in Kutaisi (5 PoC) and one in Batumi (5 PoC).

   The number of participants in each discussion varied between six to ten. Participants were selected by their status.  The duration of each discussions was between one hour and two and half hours. The main spoken languages were Persian and Arabic while some PoC could speak Georgian, English and Russian. Institute of Social Studies and Analyses (ISSA) have hired interpreters for focus groups because of language barriers.