Since the start of the project to support the social protection system, we have been providing free consultations to IDPs and other people affected by the war on how to protect their rights and freedoms. In addition, we provide expert advice to social workers.
Through their requests, we can see, among other things, the systemic problems affected people face. We want to help more, so in 2024, we expanded the list of legal issues that we can help with.
The types of legal support we provide:
- Expert and individual consultations
- Informing about the procedure for applying for and receiving public services, including by children and in the interests of children, in the following areas:
- registration of IDPs;
- social payments and benefits;
- employment and labor rights;
- document renewal;
- provision of temporary/social housing;
- compensation for damaged/destroyed housing;
- inheritance law;
- registration/declaration of place of residence;
- establishment of the fact of unlawful deprivation of personal liberty;
- other issues.
- Webinars/workshops, where we discuss the rights and freedoms of IDPs and how to prevent their violation.
- Secondary legal aid, including drafting documents for going to court (in certain oblasts).
- Referral to another service provider if we cannot address the issue within the project.
Nataliya Kryvosheyeva, project lawyer:
“Since the beginning of the full-scale invasion, the staff shortage due to the lack of professionals in the field of social protection has become increasingly pronounced, especially in the regions of active hostilities. Government decisions change significantly almost every quarter (in particular, I refer to the constant changes to the procedures governing the registration of IDPs and their social support).
At the same time, the government is introducing new initiatives in providing social services (for example, introducing a resilience-building service). Under these conditions, there is a need to provide an expanded list of quality and comprehensive consultations rapidly, including secondary legal aid and referral services.”
On what issues and where can I get secondary legal aid?
Please don’t hesitate to reach out to us if you need to draft a procedural document (claim, petition, response to claims, etc.) on issues related to the restoration of violated rights of IDPs to social protection or the establishment of facts, such as:
- an application to establish a fact of legal significance (birth, death) in the temporarily occupied territories;
- a statement of claim to cancel the arrest imposed on social accounts;
- a statement of claim to recognize as unlawful actions to terminate the payment (IDP living allowance) and resume its payment;
- a statement of claim to recognize as unlawful the actions to terminate the IDP certificate;
- other documents.
This service is available to IDPs and other persons affected by the war in Donetska, Zaporizka, Luhanska, Mykolaivska, and Khersonska oblasts (if no free legal aid centers exist there).
What is the purpose of referral to another service provider?
Referrals allow you to get the services you need quickly, which is especially important during the period of adaptation of IDPs to their new place of residence. We will provide up-to-date information on who can help you solve your issue.
Please note! We only provide the contacts of another service provider and do not share personal data with third parties without consent.
To get legal advice, fill out a short Google form at https://bit.ly/3jHq2eg.
Our consultants will contact you and provide professional assistance.
Don’t hesitate to reach out, we will be happy to help!
We provide legal advice within the framework of the Supporting the Capacity of the Social Protection System to Register Internally Displaced Persons project, funded by the United Nations Refugee Agency in Ukraine.