The main topics of the Central Ukrainian Forum of IDP Councils were housing for IDPs, cooperation between local authorities and civil society organizations, integration, and the role of IDPs in community life.
The two-day event, which took place on September 11–12 in Vinnytsia, brought together about 100 participants from 10 oblasts of Ukraine.
Kateryna Drobotina, program advisor at UNHCR, the UN Refugee Agency in Ukraine, in Vinnytsia, said the forum served as a platform for discussing the participation of internally displaced persons in community life and the decision-making processes that affect them.
“IDP Councils are advisory bodies that represent the interests of displaced persons. By organizing this forum, we at UNHCR aimed to explore opportunities to further strengthen IDP Councils and support their work. Their role is to advocate for the right of internally displaced persons to participate in the life of communities and the country,” said Kateryna Drobotina.
The Forum featured five discussion panels and workshops. Key topics included local policies and support programs for displaced persons, cooperation between local authorities and the civil society sector, and the experience of IDP Councils in addressing the challenges most frequently faced by IDPs.
Valeriia Vershynina, executive director of the Charity Foundation “Stabilization Support Services,” said it is crucial for representatives of IDP Councils to communicate with each other, share experiences, and know where to seek assistance. That is why such forums are necessary.
“All the agenda items were proposed by the IDP Councils themselves; some were previously discussed at the National Forum. However, that event focused on what the government could do, whereas here we are discussing actions at the regional level — what can be done within communities,” noted Valeriia Vershynina.
During the forum, participants also developed a plan for the subsequent work of the Congress of IDP Councils organization, defining its goals, tasks, and main activities to coordinate the work of the Councils.
The event was organized by the Charity Foundation “Stabilization Support Services” with financial support from UNHCR, the UN Refugee Agency in Ukraine.
