The I All-Ukrainian Forum of IDP Councils was held in Kyiv from November 1 to 3, 2023. This was the largest event dedicated to developing and strengthening IDP Councils’ capacity, integrating displaced persons into communities, and involving them in shaping public policy.
Key discussion topics included national and local policies on IDPs, international experience in IDP integration, and the role of IDP Councils as mechanisms for protecting IDP rights and involving them in decision-making processes. Special attention was given to improving communication between IDP Councils, developing cooperation mechanisms with local authorities, and the need to establish a national coordinating body for IDP Councils.
The Forum in Numbers
- 428 participants, including 156 representatives of IDP Councils from all levels and regions;
- 7 panel discussions and 10 presentations with 51 speakers, a Forum Theater performance, an informal exhibition, and a series of strategic sessions;
- 61 guests from various international organizations and institutions;
- 40 civil society organizations, charities, and initiatives participated, 15 of which presented their booths at the exhibition.
Forum Objective
- To build a shared vision among state and local government representatives, IDP Councils, and international and non-governmental organizations on the role of IDP Councils in integrating internally displaced persons, their involvement in discussing recovery and community development projects, and the design of local and national policies.
Participants
The Forum gathered 428 attendees, including members of IDP Councils at all levels and from all regions, Members of Parliament, representatives of central government bodies such as the Ministry for Reintegration of Temporarily Occupied Territories of Ukraine, the Ministry of Social Policy, the Ombudsman’s Office, local council deputies, and representatives of local government authorities (oblast and raion military administrations), self-government bodies, and NGOs working with IDPs.
International organizations and institutions represented at the Forum included:
IOM, UN OCHA, UNDP, UNFPA, UNHCR, UNICEF, IREX, McGill University, People in Need, Save the Children, ICRC, the Embassy of Switzerland in Ukraine, the U.S. Embassy in Ukraine, the Delegation of the European Union to Ukraine, the Harvard Center for Human Right Policy, Caritas Ukraine, the International Renaissance Foundation, among others.
Key Speakers:
- Iryna Vereshchuk — Deputy Prime Minister of Ukraine, Minister for Reintegration of Temporarily Occupied Territories (2021–2024);
- Karolina Lindholm Billing — Representative of the UN Refugee Agency in Ukraine (UNHCR);
- Paula Gaviria Betancur — UN Special Rapporteur on the Human Rights of Internally Displaced Persons;
- Matthew Johnson — Stabilization Advisor at the U.S. Embassy in Ukraine;
- Uliana Bakh — Project Director at IREX Ukraine;
- Valeriia Vershynina — Chairperson of the Board of Directors of the Charity Foundation “Stabilization Support Services” and expert on IDP issues (since June 2024 — Executive Director of the Charitable Organization “Charity Foundation “Stabilization Support Services”)
- Lina Malagon — Ph.D., Senior Lecturer at the University of the West of England (UWE) and Senior Research Fellow at the E. Carr Center for Human Rights at Harvard University
Panel Discussions
The Forum particularly focused on the role of IDP Councils in involving displaced persons in decision-making processes at both local and national levels. Panel discussions covered key topics regarding IDP integration into communities, the interaction between IDP Councils and authorities, international and civic organizations, and mechanisms for advocating for the rights and needs of displaced persons:
- “Participation of IDPs in Shaping Future Policy: Why It Matters”;
- “International Experience: How Other Countries Involve IDPs in Decision-Making, Early Recovery, and Long-Term Solutions”;
- “Effective State Social Policy for Supporting and Integrating IDPs: What Should It Look Like?”;
- “IDP Councils: Panacea or Temporary Solution?”;
- “The Role of IDP Councils in Protecting the Rights of Displaced Persons”;
- “Improving Services for IDPs in Communities.”
Strategic Sessions for Expert Groups
Five expert groups worked during the forum to develop recommendations for public policy and the activities of IDP Councils:
- Group 1: “Vision and Future Planning for IDP Councils”;
- Group 2: “Guidelines and Recommendations for IDP Council Members”;
- Group 3: “What Should a National Network of IDP Councils Look Like?”;
- Group 4: “Recommendations for Improving the Standard Regulation on IDP Councils”;
- Group 5: “Roadmap for Implementing the Cabinet of Ministers Resolution No. 812 of August 4, 2023.”
Workshops and Thematic Sessions
- “Monitoring Local Policies for Compliance with IDP Rights”;
- “Ensuring the Rights of IDP Children Under Martial Law”;
- “Advocating for Changes in the Legal Framework Concerning IDPs”;
- “Improving Information Accessibility for IDPs with Disabilities”;
- Forum-Performance ‘In Circles’ with Interactive Discussion;
- “Using Creative Tools to Raise Awareness of IDP Issues”;
- “Security: How Not to Forget the Essentials?”;
- “Ways of Engaging with IDP Communities in Localities and Their Participation in IDP Councils.”
Forum Results
- Heads of IDP Councils from all oblasts and Kyiv were included in the Coordination Headquarters under the Office of Deputy Prime Minister Iryna Vereshchuk;
- An interactive map of IDP Councils was presented, allowing for quick identification and contact with local Councils;
- Proposed amendments were developed for the Cabinet of Ministers Resolution No. 812 of August 4, 2023 (Model Regulation on IDP Councils) and other legal acts.
The event was held by the Charitable Organization “Charity Foundation “Stabilization Support Services” in partnership with the Ministry for Reintegration of Temporarily Occupied Territories and with the support of UNHCR, the UN Refugee Agency in Ukraine and the International Research & Exchanges Board (IREX).
The content is the sole responsibility of the CO SSS and does not necessarily reflect the views of UNHCR, the UN Refugee Agency in Ukraine, or the International Research & Exchanges Board (IREX).