DIGNIFIED Focus Group Brings Together Civil Society Organizations to Strengthen Research
Many disadvantaged applicants for international protection in Cyprus, including single parents, survivors of gender-based violence, persons with disabilities, and people with serious health conditions, continue to face difficult and often undignified experiences during the asylum process.
To begin documenting and highlighting these experiences, we organized a focus group discussion as part of the DIGNIFIED project, bringing together 7 participants from Civil Society Organizations and professionals working in migration and human rights.
The focus group supported preparing the project’s upcoming survey and interviews with disadvantaged applicants for international protection. Participants provided valuable feedback on the research methodology and shared professional experiences and real-life examples of barriers related to reception conditions, access to social welfare, healthcare, housing, and other essential services.
The discussion created an important space for exchange and reflection, helping us better understand the gaps between policy, procedures, and the everyday realities faced by vulnerable applicants in Cyprus. The insights shared will inform the next steps of the research, the project’s evidence-based policy report, policy brief, and future advocacy actions.
We sincerely thank UNHCR Cyprus, YESOLP-Youth Empowerment on Society and Life Pursuit, Cyprus Red Cross Society, TapSeu Pouh, MedMa, and Ms. Corina Demetriou for participating and contributing their perspectives, experiences, and expertise to this important discussion.
The project DIGNIFIED – Strengthening Civil Society to Promote Rights-Based Social Welfare is implemented within the framework of the PLATO programme, with Generation for Change CY as the implementing body. PLATO is co-funded by the European Union through the Citizens, Equality, Rights and Values (CERV) Programme, the Bodossaki Foundation, and the NGO Support Centre, with a total grant amount of €3.1 million.
