IPA CIS Delegation Held Bilateral Meetings on Margins of 148th IPU Assembly

On March 25, at headquarters of United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) in Geneva, a meeting took place between a delegation from the IPA CIS  including Chair of the IPA CIS Permanent Commission on Legal Issues, Chair of the Committee of the Majlisi namoyandagon of the Majlisi Oli of the Republic of Tajikistan on Legislation and Human Rights Ravshan Rajabzoda and Secretary General of the IPA CIS Council  Dmitriy Kobitskiy with UNHCR's Regional Director for Europe Philippe Leclerc.

During this meeting, Assembly's representatives acknowledged significant contribution of UNHCR to preparation of model laws being developed by the IPA CIS and discussed effective development of cooperation between organizations on mutually interesting issues. Dmitriy Kobitskiy informed Philippe Leclerc about important documents being developed by IPA CIS on asylum and migration issues, notably “Recommendations for Protection and Social Rehabilitation of Victims of Human Trafficking in CIS Member Nations, a glossary of terms and concepts in the field of citizenship and migration for CIS member states, and “Recommendations on Legislative Regulation of Migration Processes During Pandemics.”

In a subsequent meeting on 26 March, the IPA CIS delegation, consisting of Ravshan Rajabzoda and Dmitriy Kobitskiy, met with Director-General of the United Nations Office at Geneva Tatiana Valovaya. The IPA CIS representatives highlighted their collaboration with various UN system structures, notably fruitful work with the UN the Counter-Terrorism Committee , International Organization for Migration and UNHCR, and shared directions of interaction with these structures.

Dmitriy Kobitskiy pointed out potential for a much broader role of the UN structures in work of international organizations than currently exists. Tatiana Valovaya emphasized importance of achieving sustainable development goals and expressed interest and readiness to assist IPA CIS in expanding contacts with UN system structures.

Philippe Leclerc thanked the IPA CIS for their cooperation and suggested focusing on legislative regulation of issues related to citizenship and status of stateless persons. Secretary General proposed that colleagues from UNHCR's Moscow office participate in expert evaluation of these documents, highlighting significant contribution to development of bilateral relations made by its leader, Karim Atassi.