These days, Canada is hosting the international seminar Strengthening the Participation of Internally Displaced Persons: Obstacles and Opportunities. One of the panels is dedicated to the Ukrainian experience. Presenting on that experience was the Executive Director of the Foundation, Valeriia Vershynina; the Chair of the Board of the NGO “Civil Holding ‘GROUP OF INFLUENCE’” Tetiana Durneva; and the Head of the IDP Council in Luhanska Oblast, Yana Liubymova.
Valeriia Vershynina spoke about the work of the Charity Foundation “Stabilization Support Services” and the IDP Councils in Ukraine and their achievements. She addressed the issue of proper IDP engagement and the obstacles to achieving it and also raised the question of the role of international institutions in this process. A key element of her presentation was the announcement of the Third All-Ukrainian Forum of IDP Councils, scheduled for 2025.
“We all share responsibility for creating an environment where those who have lost their homes are safe and feel a sense of belonging. IDP Councils play a crucial role in supporting the social adaptation and integration of displaced persons — especially young people and children. Involving IDPs in local-level decision-making strengthens communities and helps restore lives,” noted Valeriia Vershynina.
This event is a joint initiative of the Office of the United Nations Special Rapporteur on the Human Rights of IDPs, UNHCR, the IDP Protection Expert Group (IPEG), and McGill University. It has brought together IDP leaders from various countries, IPEG members, as well as experts from academia, non-governmental organizations, and the United Nations. The participation of Ukrainian representatives in the workshop plays an important role in uniting the international community around the issues faced by Ukraine’s IDPs. Among other speakers at the workshop were representatives from Colombia, Honduras, Nigeria, Ethiopia, Iraq, and Uganda.