The ambitious three-day event was organized by the Charity Foundation “Stabilization Support Services” in partnership with the Ministry of Reintegration of the Temporarily Occupied Territories and with the support of the UN Refugee Agency in Ukraine and the International Research and Exchanges Board (IREX).
The Forum became a broad platform for dialog that brought together more than 350 participants, including representatives of IDPs, government officials, civil society, and international organizations.
The Deputy Prime Minister of Ukraine and the Minister for the Reintegration of Temporarily Occupied Territories, Iryna Vereshchuk, inaugurated the Forum. She expressed her gratitude to regional authorities, international partners, and civil society — everyone who works on the ground and understands the needs of the displaced.
“IDP councils are an extremely important institution, so I thank my colleagues from Stabilization Support Services and all those who are putting in the effort. 527 IDP Councils is a remarkable result in such a short period of time,” said Iryna Vereshchuk.
The attendees aim to enhance cooperation between the government and both domestic and international organizations assisting IDPs. The significance of this collaboration was emphasized by Karolina Lindholm Billing, the UNHCR Representative in Ukraine.
“This event was organized by a team that is dedicated to improving the situation of IDPs, their involvement in the life of host communities, and decision-making. IDPs should not be discriminated against and have the right to participate fully in community life. This Forum of IDP Councils is living proof that Ukraine is committed to this principle in policy and practice. More than half a thousand IDP Councils is a great achievement. But now our common goal is to make their work effective,” said Karolina Lindholm Billing.
Another goal of the Forum is to develop effective algorithms for supporting, adapting, and integrating IDPs into their new communities, as described by Dermot Hamilton, Executive Director of Stabilization Support Services:
“This Forum should become a platform for discussions, exchange of experience, collective search for solutions, and presentation of achievements. We are proud that the pilot project of IDP Councils under the Luhanska and Kharkivska oblast state administrations in Kramatorsk and Zaporizhzhia, which started in 2018, has been so successful. Now the number of Councils is growing. However, the number of challenges has increased in the wake of the full-scale invasion. That is why the work of IDP Councils is critical for the implementation of the best international practices of IDP integration and the restoration of Ukraine,” emphasized Dermot Hamilton.
Matthew Johnson, Stabilization Advisor at the U.S. Embassy in Ukraine, spoke in more detail about the international experience of integrating IDPs into communities.
During the panel discussion “Participation of IDPs in Shaping Future Policy,” Uliana Bakh, Director of IREX Programs in Ukraine, stressed the importance of youth participation.
“We have to think about the future, which is why it is essential to work with the younger generation so that they grow up to be active citizens and can influence their future by engaging with the authorities. That’s why we are currently implementing a youth program in 14 communities in Ukraine as part of the United Voices in Action project. It involves IDPs and local teenagers. They work together, learn to develop and implement important projects, as well as develop skills in analysis and teamwork,” said Uliana Bakh.
There are currently 25 IDP Councils operating in Ukraine under oblast councils, 71 under raion councils, and 431 under local self-government bodies.
