The full-scale Russian invasion of Ukraine and the conflict in Nagorno-Karabakh have generated increased levels of forced displacement across Ukraine and Armenia, as well as neighbouring countries including Moldova and Georgia. These developments have placed strain on national justice systems and increased demand for accessible, effective, and inclusive state-guaranteed legal aid for forcibly displaced populations.

In December 2023, UNDP, with support from the German Government, facilitated the adoption of the Tbilisi Declaration on Access to State-Guaranteed Legal Aid for Forcibly Displaced Populations (Tbilisi Declaration) by the state legal aid authorities of Armenia, Georgia, Moldova, and Ukraine. 

The Tbilisi Declaration sets out nine principles promoting access to effective legal aid services for displaced populations, reinforcing a people-centred approach to justice:

1. Equal access to existing services without discrimination; 
2. Access to information; 
3. Accessibility of services;
4. Inclusivity of services;
5. Women’s rights; 
6. Quality of service; 
7. Policy frameworks that reflect displacement; 
8. Funding of services for displaced people;
9. Cooperation between international, national, and local stakeholders. 

This baseline assessment examines how these principles are being implemented in practice across the four signatory countries and identifies good practices, key gaps, and priority areas for reform.

The assessment draws on a desk-based review of existing data and qualitative research, including 39 key informant interviews (KIIs) and 18 focus group discussions (FGDs), conducted between July and September 2025.

About 150 participants took part in the assessment in the four signatory countries, including state legal aid providers, courts, lawyers, professional associations, non-governmental organisations, university law clinics, community-led organisations, displaced people, and international organisations. Women represented at least 50% of KII and FGD participants.