The second All-Ukrainian Forum of IDP Councils is taking place in Kyiv. The participants gathered to discuss advocacy of the rights and interests of internally displaced persons. Also, to summarize the first results of the work of IDP Councils and to identify the main lines of their further activities.
The event was organized by Stabilization Support Services in partnership with the Ministry of Reintegration and with the support of the United Nations Refugee Agency in Ukraine (UNHCR) and the International Research and Exchanges Board (IREX in Ukraine).
Vice Prime Minister Iryna Vereshchuk delivered a welcoming speech to the forum participants and took part in a panel discussion on “State Policy of Support and Protection of Internally Displaced Persons. IDP Councils as a mechanism for responding to problems”.
“I am grateful to the IDP Councils. You are cool, professional, motivated and persistent. Currently, 873 such centers are registered in Ukraine. This is about 20 thousand active members of IDP Councils. In a few years you have become a force from scratch,” said Iryna Vereshchuk.
“The mission of the IDP Councils is a systematic and professional advocacy of the rights and interests of internally displaced persons. And the ultimate goal, of course, is full integration into the communities to which people have come or those to which they will return,” the official said.
The Vice Prime Minister added that there are about 5 million internally displaced persons in Ukraine and they hope for help from the IDP Councils, as well as the President, Government and Parliament.
“Internally displaced persons count on our support. Together we will succeed,” emphasized Iryna Vereshchuk.