In Kremenchuk, experts of the United Voices in Action initiative, implemented by the international organization IREX in partnership with the Charity Foundation Stabilization Support Services and backed by the U.S. Department of State, showcased a large-scale study of local policies and programs that casts light on how IDPs’ rights are respected and their integration into the life of their new communities.
The legal experts involved meticulously examined 193 local legislative enactments from 25 communities across 15 oblasts in Ukraine. In Poltavska Oblast, the experts studied the situation in the Poltavska and Kremenchutska communities.
“The study was carried out in several stages. First, lawyers analyzed documents published on official websites and responses to inquiries, and then conducted expert interviews with local authorities in both communities,” said Roman Shyrokykh, regional coordinator of the United Voices in Action program in Poltavska Oblast.
The researchers did not observe any discrimination against internally displaced persons in the context of receiving social services. The Poltavska community has three local targeted programs. One of them provides support specifically for internally displaced or evacuated persons. The Kremenchutska community has three local programs, but does not have a special program for IDPs. The city council does not consider this necessary, as IDPs can use the same programs as other residents.
However, researchers found that IDPs have limited opportunities to participate in local decision-making and do not receive some social benefits. The reason is gaps in the community statute, regulations, and local targeted programs that define the concept of “permanent residence.”
Olha Usanova, Deputy Mayor of Kremenchuk for Humanitarian Affairs, thanked the experts for their work supporting IDPs.
“The study will help us and other government agencies that approve policies to protect certain categories of citizens, including IDPs, to adjust their activities,” noted Olha Usanova.
In addition to the deputy mayor, the presentation was attended by the heads of the departments of social protection, health, and education. IDPs and representatives of civil society organizations, including Proliska, Rukh Nesklamnykh, and Liderka, also attended the event.
At the end of the event, Roman Shyrokhykh thanked the local authorities of Kremenchuk and Poltava for their close cooperation, providing all the necessary documents and willingness to cooperate during the study.
The research team has developed recommendations for local authorities to improve local policies and programs for the improvement of the IDP situation in communities. In particular, they propose to amend the community statute, local targeted programs, and regulations that define the procedure for benefits and assistance to certain categories of the population.
“During the presentation, we had a discussion about the proposed changes to the community statute. But in general, the local authorities welcomed the recommendations and comments of the experts on some of the regulations,” summarized the regional coordinator of the United Voices in Action program in Poltavska Oblast.
Beyond Polvtavska Oblast, the results of the study were presented in the 14 other studied oblasts. The United Voices in Action program will send a summary of the recommendations will be sent to the Ministry of Reintegration of Temporarily Occupied Territories and other relevant national and local authorities.
This activity was made possible as part of the United Voices in Action program, implemented by the international organization IREX together with the Charitable Organization “Charity Foundation “Stabilization Support Services” and with the support of the U.S. Department of State.