Before the commencement of the eleventh session of the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine of the ninth convocation, a coalition of organizations focused on protecting the rights of those affected by the armed aggression against Ukraine prepared a Roadmap of bills that are of significant importance for Ukrainians who have suffered due to the war.
This session coincides with the tenth anniversary of Russia’s war against Ukraine. Over these ten years, the government has learned to respond to the challenges caused by the war and its consequences. However, many questions regarding the reintegration of deoccupied territories of Ukraine and the population, the restoration of government control in these territories, and ensuring proper compensation for war-caused damages remain unanswered.
Human rights activists emphasize that despite the demonstrated desire of legislators to regulate issues related to overcoming the consequences of the Russian Federation’s armed aggression, there are systemic problems that arise during the development and consideration of bills of this category.
The Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine is called upon to:
- Serve as a platform for constructive discussion on the prospects of deoccupation and the government’s action algorithm for the full restoration of authority, the system of guarantees, and the protection of human rights in liberated territories.
- Transition from individual to comprehensive, long-term solutions coordinated with the executive branch of government.
- Ensure more transparent activities.
The proposed Roadmap contains information about draft bills that human rights defenders support:
- Bill No. 9069 regarding the specifics of state registration of civil status acts that occurred on the territory temporarily occupied by the Russian Federation and outside Ukraine
- Bill No. 9453 regarding the proportional calculation of pensionable work experience for people who worked outside Ukraine
- Bill No. 9579 regarding the provision of criminal proceedings, the conduct of which is made impossible due to the armed aggression of the Russian Federation against Ukraine, temporary occupation of certain territories of Ukraine by the Russian Federation
Some require further development:
- Draft Bill No. 10017 regarding compulsory state social insurance
- Draft Bill No. 10137 regarding ensuring the right of persons living/lived in territories where combat operations are/were conducted and/or in territories temporarily occupied by the Russian Federation to receive a pension
- Draft Bill No. 10208 on improving the legal regulation of issues related to the prohibition of alienation of real estate property acquired (including invested/financed) using a housing certificate for the purchase of a residential real estate property
- Draft Bill No. 10053 regarding compensation for damage and destruction of certain categories of real estate as a result of hostilities, terrorist acts, and sabotage caused by the armed aggression of the Russian Federation against Ukraine
- Draft Bill No. 10256 on the registration of persons whose life and health were affected as a result of the armed aggression of the Russian Federation against Ukraine
- Draft Bill No. 10425 on the grounds and procedure for acquiring and terminating Ukrainian citizenship
The Roadmap also includes a bill that human rights defenders suggest rejecting. It is bill No. 10355 on amending some legislative acts regarding the specifics of pension payments to persons who have committed a criminal offense against the foundations of national security, public safety, peace, security of mankind, and international legal order.
Here, you can find more details about the bills mentioned and human rights organizations’ perspectives on them.