Over 100 attendees graced the occasion. Delegates from IDP Councils, government officials from Dnipropetrovska, Zaporizka, Donetska, and Khersonska oblasts, along with experts from charitable and civil society human rights organizations, participated in the event.
Specifically, the speakers included Lidiya Kuzmenko, Legal Advisor at UNHCR Ukraine; Natalia Krandiyevska, Social Protection Specialist at the UNHCR Sub-Office in Dnipro; Valeriya Vershyninina, Legal Director at CO CF Stabilization Support Services; and representatives from IREX, Tenth of April, Proliska, Right to Protection, and ACTED.
The primary focus of the two-day discussions was the challenges of internal displacement in the regions, intending to develop long-term solutions to enhance the integration of IDPs within the host communities.
Eduard Pidlubnyi, the Deputy Mayor of Dnipro and the Director of the Social Policy Department of Dnipro City Council, remarked, “The municipal authorities are always willing to engage and collaborate, as it is through alliances with charitable and civic organizations that we have managed to assist numerous individuals. We have not forgotten anyone who has been displaced since 2014 and those who left at the beginning of the full-scale invasion. Concurrently, we diligently analyze and implement the available aid mechanisms while exploring and developing new ones to support our IDPs. Our shared goal is to progress towards the best and the most efficient.”
During the initial day, the conversation centered around the functioning of the IDP Council and its efficacy. It was unanimously acknowledged that the Council serves as a robust platform fostering collective efforts of civil society organizations, governmental agencies, and local authorities to smoothen the integration of IDPs into recipient communities. The pivotal theme of the forum’s second day revolved around the collaboration between international and local organizations in aiding the integration of IDPs.
Nadiya Zadorozhna, the deputy head of the Oblast Military Administration in Dnipropetrovska Oblast, remarked, “There are nearly 400 thousand IDPs in Dnipropetrovska Oblast. Addressing their needs is a top priority for the Oblast Military Administration. Accordingly, a comprehensive support program for IDPs has been adopted for 2023-2025. Additionally, an IDP Council is under formation at the oblast administration level. We have concluded the reception of applications from IDPs and civil society organizations keen on participating. Presently, 8 such centers are in the formation phase within the oblast, adding to the already functioning 21.”
Olena Kryshen, the head of the Department of Social Protection of the Population at the Dnipropetrovska Oblast Military Administration, stated, “Dnipropetrovska Oblast stands among the first in terms of the number of officially registered internally displaced persons. Hence, one of the significant hurdles in the social sector of the Dnipropetrovska Oblast is integrating IDPs into the host communities. IDP Councils serve as a potent medium facilitating smoother IDP integration by fostering dialogue between local authorities and the displaced individuals.”
Group discussions were facilitated through a workshop that consisted of four sections. Adopting the World Café method, the attendees at the forum developed suggestions for government bodies, NGOs, and local authorities to tackle the issues encountered by IDPs, ranging from protecting housing rights and business support to the adaptation and integration of children and youth.
Marharyta Hryshko, the head of the Social Protection Department of the Beryslav City Council Executive Committee in Khersonska Oblast and a member of the Beryslav IDP Council, noted, “We consider a research-based methodology as a viable route to integrate IDPs within host communities. Collaborating with a psychologist from the Proliska NGO, who holds a PhD in Psychology from Kryvyi Rih Pedagogical University, the Department of Social Protection has initiated a Partnership Program for the Social and Psychological Rehabilitation of IDPs. This initiative emphasizes psychological support, social adaptation, and reconciliation. The unified efforts of IDP Councils and local authorities, through a centralized access and monitoring model, hold significant importance.”
Olena Tokarieva, the director of the Department of Social Protection of the Population at the Donetska Oblast Military Administration, shared, “The oblast initially encountered the issue of internal displacement in 2014. Since then, persistent efforts have been underway to refine the integration strategies for IDPs. Since 2015, Donetska Oblast has implemented the Regional IDP Assistance Programs. It was paramount for the relocated residents to feel supported in their new environment. Consequently, humanitarian hubs were established, encompassing raion state administrations, local authorities, volunteers, and NGOs. IDP Councils have emerged as a crucial platform for fostering cooperation between the community and the authorities. In 2019, with the backing of the Charity Foundation “Stabilization Support Services”, one of the first IDP Councils in Ukraine was set up in Kramatorsk. Currently, 18 out of 46 communities in the oblast boast established IDP Councils.”
To conclude the forum, IDP Council representatives and initiative groups from four oblasts signed a Memorandum of Cooperation between IDP Councils.
The Second Eastern Ukrainian Forum of IDP Councils signifies a progressive stride in fortifying the collaboration between local authorities, IDPs, and civil society. Importantly, it fosters cooperation between IDP Councils from various communities and regions. This initiative not only supports them but also facilitates networking, experience exchange, and united efforts to address prevalent concerns regarding IDPs’ rights and liberties.
We are committed to developing better communication between IDP Councils nationwide, accompanied by mentoring and institutional support. This October, an all-Ukrainian forum of IDP Councils is scheduled to be held in Kyiv, organized with the support of the UN Refugee Agency in Ukraine.
