A forum was held in Cherkasy to discuss the state and prospects for the implementation of IDPs’ rights in Cherkasy region, in particular the need to create an IDP Council in the region. The event was organized by the regional team of the United Voices for Action program.
The forum was attended by representatives of Cherkasy Regional State Administration, public sector, local authorities and, of course, the internally displaced persons themselves.
Taras Shcherbatiuk, regional lawyer of the United Voices for Action program in Cherkasy region, presented the concept of IDP Councils, which has been successfully implemented in a number of other regions of Ukraine since 2019. According to him, this experience will help to create the same advisory body in Cherkasy region, which serves tens of thousands of IDPs. According to Mr. Taras, there are many hubs for IDPs in the region, in particular in Cherkasy, Uman and Zvenyhorodka, but there is no consolidated solution that would allow IDPs to influence the activities of local authorities. The IDP Council can become such a solution.
Ruslan Chykalo, Director of the Social Protection Department of Cherkasy Regional State Administration, supports this idea: “As of today, 230 thousand IDPs have passed through the oblast. If we consider 100 thousand IDPs currently staying in the region, they account for a tenth of the oblast’s population! This is a large part of the community. And we work with the public sector, with charity organizations, we resettle them in private residences, but this is not enough. Your voice needs to be heard! We have a Public Council at the Regional Military Administration, which covers all areas, but they are not dealing with IDPs”.
After the presentation of the concept of the IDP Council and discussion of successful cases of IDPs’ rights protection in Cherkasy region communities, the participants moved on to panel discussions on adaptation, employment, psychological and informational support for IDPs.
The Forum allowed to establish communication and interaction between the public sector, IDPs themselves and state authorities and self-government bodies. The participants came to the conclusion that the IDP Council should be established in Cherkasy region, which will be the “voice” of tens of thousands of IDPs.
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This event was held within the framework of the United Voices for Action program implemented by IREX in Ukraine together with the Charitable Organization “Charity Foundation “Stabilization Support Services” and with the support of the U.S. Department of State.