The name of the street – matters. How R2P helped the beneficiary to defend the property right and receive compensation for destroyed housing

31.08.21

In April 2016, the village of Zaitsevo in the Donetsk region came under fire. The houses of the locals were damaged or even destroyed. The owner of one of the destroyed houses in Zaitseve applied to the CF “Right to Protection” (R2P) for legal assistance.

According to Resolution № 767 of 02.09.2020, the owners of housing destroyed as a result of hostilities have the right to receive monetary compensation. One of the conditions for receiving such compensation is the presence of registered property ownership, recorded in the State Register of Property Rights to Immovable Property.

Despite the availability of documents for the house, the beneficiary was denied state registration of ownership. All because the initial registration was carried out by the Bureau of Technical Inventorization in the city of Horlivka.

The case was initiated by the legal team of the R2P office in the city of Bakhmut, which, in particular, provides free legal aid and judicial representation of beneficiaries in cases of protection of property rights.

On April 1, the decision of the Artemivskyi City District Court recognized the ownership of the house “vul. Leskova” (this name of the street was defined in the title documents). However, the beneficiary failed to register the property right according to the court decision, as the name of the street is indicated in the State Register as “vul. Leskova N.S”.

Назва вулиці – важлива. Історія як БФ «Право на захист» допоміг бенефіціару відстояти право власності та отримати компенсацію за зруйноване житло

The beneficiary’s lawyer appealed to the Information Systems State Enterprise and found out that the reason for making changes to the name of the street was the relevant decision of the local self-government body.

As Leskova Street is located in Zaitseve village on the territory of Civil-military Administration (CMA), lawyer of the Fund addressed the head of CMA who signed the order «On renaming of the streets of the Zaitseve village, Bakhmut district, Donetsk region», that in result changed the name of the street from “vul. Leskova N.S.” to “vul. Leskova”.

Now the name of the street is listed in the State Register of Property Rights to Immovable Property as “vul. Leskova”, which allows the beneficiary to register ownership and receive compensation for the destroyed house.

The best in this story is that it is not a success for just one person, but for all the people who live on this street in Zaitseve: now they will finally be able to properly carry out registration actions for their property.

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30.08.21

What is the Ukrainian version of “just transition?” How can the decarbonization process be implemented in eastern Ukraine? When is it possible to start these processes?

Right now these questions seem very abstract, but the answers to those questions are the starting point for the study of decarbonization – a process of transformation of the economy and energy sector, aiming at a step-by-step transition away from traditional sources of energy and replacing them with renewable ones.

Yet, the answers to these questions are already needed today. That’s why in 2021 the CF “Right to Protection” (R2P), within the 3P Consortium and with the financial support of the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO), jointly with Ukrainian and international NGOs ACTED Ukraine, the IMPACT Initiatives, the Danish Red Cross, and the Red Cross of Ukraine started to implement the project aimed at reducing the eastern Ukraine population’s vulnerability to the natural and industrial-driven disasters.

In turn, Charitable Fund “Right to Protection” (R2P) has commenced a decarbonization study, which will consist of desk research and field consultations. R2P’s experts will conduct a thorough analysis of decarbonization scenarios and further identify key risks for each scenario.

More information on the role of the #3PConsortium in reducing risks of catastrophes in eastern Ukraine is available in the Newsletter:

NEWSLETTER | INCREASING RESILIENCE TO DISASTER RISK IN EASTERN UKRAINE

ІНФОРМАЦІЙНА ДОВІДКА | ПОСИЛЕННЯ СПРОМОЖНОСТІ ДО ЗНИЖЕННЯ РИЗИКУ КАТАСТРОФ В РЕГІОНАХ, ПОСТРАЖДАЛИХ ВІД КОНФЛІКТУ НА СХОДІ УКРАЇНИ

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25.08.21

Today we present the report ‘Crossing the contact line’ for July 2021, prepared by the CF “Right to Protection” (R2P). The report is based on data collected during the monitoring of the situation on EECPs. More statistical data is available on the Eastern Ukraine Checkpoint Monitoring Online Dashboard: https://www.unhcr.org/ua/en/eecp-monitoring-2021

This month, crossing the contact line remained possible only through two EECPs out of seven: Novotroitske in Donetska Oblast and Stanytsia Luhanska in Luhanska Oblast, at a level considerably below the pre-COVID period. The other EECPs remained closed on the NGCA as a measure to restrict the spread of COVID-19. The numbers of people crossing them in July 2021 were about eight per cent of the pre-COVID-19 levels, which in 2019 often exceeded 1 million per month. In July, 80,588 people crossed the contact line.

Перетин лінії розмежування через КПВВ, липень–2021 (ЗВІТ)

Ukraine entered the green zone in terms of the number of COVID-19 cases. In this regard, the mandatory requirement for travellers crossing the EECP to install the smart phone GEO-tracing app Vdoma was lifted on 17 June.

On 26 July, a bus with over 20 people arrived from NGCA to Novotroitske EECP at the end of the working day. The travellers would have been stranded at the border all night. However, after R2P intervention, and by the order of JFO headquarters, the work of EECP was extended and people were able to pass through. In addition, the transportation to Volnovakha was arranged.

Since 28 July, people have had the opportunity to get vaccinated against COVID-19 directly at Stanytsia-Luhanska EECP. The vaccination center is open on Wednesdays and Fridays, from 9 am. to 12 am.

During July, 11,380 vulnerable elderly persons were transported across the Stanytsia Luhanska EECP by an electric vehicle provided by the NGO Proliska.

The report is available in

English

Ukrainian

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20.08.21

How environmental issues might affect the state of public health in Ukraine?
How the decarbonization process might influence the environmental, social, economic, demographic landscape of eastern Ukraine?
What will be the future of the environment in eastern Ukraine?

The answers to these questions will have a significant impact on the lives and health of many people. But can we answer those questions without considering all the possible risks? Such as industrial, environmental, and conflict-related risks. In fact, not really.

Without reliable data, it is impossible to predict all possible scenarios. In turn, without the use of an evidence-based approach, it is impossible to develop the necessary recommendations and appropriate solutions. This is the reason why R2P is keen to create a solid and evincible bedrock for its advocacy activities in the field of Disaster Risk Reduction (DRR).

БФ «Право на захист» розпочинає дослідження техногенних та природних ризиків на сході України

Today R2P starts working on two analytical research documents related to DRR.

The first one will be focused on public health in eastern Ukraine: its purpose is to improve understanding of the impact caused by environmental and industrial risks on public health in targeted areas. Based on the results of this research, R2P will develop comprehensive recommendations for further advocacy at the national level to mitigate the negative impact of risks on the health of the population.

The second research will bring into focus the risks associated with the uncontrolled flooding of mines and related environmental, social, and economic consequences. R2P has engaged national technical experts with solid experience in environmental/industrial risks to conduct the research and develop efficient mechanisms for just transition and closedown of mines. Based on the results of this research, R2P will compile recommendations for authorities at all levels, identifying possible solutions to minimize the negative consequences of restructuring for the public health, environment, and social infrastructure in targeted communities.

We believe that our research activities will help to better understand and further mitigate key industrial and environmental risks in eastern Ukraine. Solutions and recommendations provided within the analytical documents will form the essence of further advocacy efforts, which will feed into the development of the national DRR agenda.

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20.08.21

19.08.21

CF “Right to Protection” (R2P) in partnership with the International Law Committee of the Ukrainian National Bar Association reviewed the current case laws of the Supreme Court of Ukraine for the period from 2018 to 2021 in favor of the asylum seekers in disputes over their recognition as refugees and persons in need of complementary protection. The legal review was conducted by Olena Kalashnyk, a lawyer at the R2P, and Vitaliy Vlasyuk, a lawyer and Chairman of the UNBA International Law Committee.

Due to wars and armed conflicts in different parts of the world, a significant number of people are forced to flee and seek protection in other countries. Now the world community’s attention is focused on asylum seekers from Afghanistan, Syria, Somalia, etc.

After all, when a person in his/her country of origin faces significant difficulties due to religious beliefs, political views, belonging to a certain social group, or due to his/her ethnicity, life in their home countries becomes impossible. That is why people are forced to seek safety elsewhere, where their lives will not be in danger.

Overview of the practice of the Supreme Court in disputes concerning the recognition of persons as refugees or in need of the complementary protection (2018-2021) Огляд практики Верховного Суду у спорах щодо визнання осіб біженцями або такими, що потребують додаткового захисту (за період з 2018 по 2021)

«In Ukraine, an asylum seeker who applied to the State Migration Service for recognition as a refugee and was refused becomes left in a very stressful situation. The person then needs to appeal such a refusal in court and prove that he/she has certain grounds for obtaining a particular status. Sometimes a person’s life depends solely on a court decision.
With this in mind, we have prepared a review of the current Supreme Court legal practice, which should facilitate the work of lawyers, the Migration Service, and the court in resolving disputes over the recognition of persons as refugees or in need of complementary protection. I hope that the legal court decisions included in the collection will help save many lives and contribute to the fair settlement of disputes between asylum seekers and the Migration Service,»
– said Olena Kalashnyk, a lawyer at the CF “Right to Protection” (R2P).

The overview is available for download (in Ukrainian).

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17.08.21

Dangerous industrial facilities in eastern Ukraine existed long before 2014. The beginning of hostilities intensified the old problems and created new ones.

The local population was not ready for the challenges they faced 7 years later, i.e. namely the decaying and destroyed infrastructure, worsening of water quality due to flooding of radioactive and contaminated mines, and in addition to all of this – the effects of global climate change, which directly affects soil fertility and air quality.

Emergency preparedness and response plans are especially crucial in this context. However, we must not forget about the importance of direct impact on the problem via the development of long-term solutions.

That’s why in 2021 the CF “Right to Protection” (R2P), within the #3PConsortium and with the financial support of the
Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office, jointly with Ukrainian and international NGOs ACTED Ukraine, the IMPACT Initiatives, the Danish Red Cross and the Red Cross of Ukraine are implementing a project aimed at reducing the eastern Ukraine population’s vulnerability to the natural and industrial-driven disasters.

Watch the video to find out how the members of the #Protect #Prepare #Prevent Consortium plan to strengthen the ability of communities near the contact line to tackle the current risks.

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R2P Video Course: “Protection Mainstreaming: Challenges and Opportunities.”

17.08.21

Ilya was born in 1955 in the village of Krasni Chetai. There he spent all his childhood, went to school, and finished the 10th grade. After graduating, Ilya served in the army for 2 years in Severomorsk. The man received a secondary special education after graduating from an agricultural vocational school in Yadrin, Chuvash Republic.

In 1976, Ilya received a passport of a citizen of the USSR for the first time. His return from the army was awaited by a girl who later became his wife. The family then had two boys born. For most of his life the man worked hard and was never ashamed of his job: for almost 17 years he was a seasonal worker. He worked as a logger for 4-6 months a year in Yaiva, Perm region, in order to be able to feed his family.

In 1988, the family moved to the Republic of Moldova, where they lived until 1998. Then they decided to come to Ukraine, where the man’s sisters lived. On the way to Ukraine Ilya’s bag with all the documents was stolen. As a result, the man was left with only a birth certificate.

Therefore, when Ilya came to Ukraine in 1998, he had only a birth certificate, which he keeps to this day because this is the only document he has now. The man has been living in the village of Zelenodolsk in the Apostolivskyy district of the Dnipropetrovsk region for more than 20 years. He repeatedly tried to recover the lost documents, as due to their absence he was not able to work officially, receive proper medical care, and earn a pension. Unfortunately, the man is homeless now and has to live in the basement of the house of his neighbors. As a sign of respect and gratitude, he uses his masterful skills to repair or restore household items.

Thanks to the help of Zelenodolsk City Council and with the participation of the social issues specialist of the I category Fandyushyna Tetiana, in February 2021 this man finally got a chance for a new life: our colleague Olena Pazenko, monitor of the CF “Right to Protection” (R2P) told them his story and then quickly transferred the case to the R2P Kharkiv office, where lawyer Dmytro Hanych then began working on the case.

In August 2021, thanks to the joint efforts of the CF “Right to Protection” (R2P), Zelenodolsk City Council, and the Apostolivskyy District Sector of the State Migration Service of Ukraine in the Dnipropetrovsk region, Ilya was finally able to apply for recognition as a stateless person.

Not just the stolen documents, but a stolen normal life. Story of Ilya Вкрали документи, а разом з ними й звичне життя. Історія Іллі

At the time of consideration of the application, he received a certificate of application for recognition as a stateless person: how happy he was at that time is difficult to describe in text, because this certificate gave him the right to temporarily stay in Ukraine on the legal grounds. But his dream was not just to get the right to stay legally in Ukraine, but also to become a citizen because he gave more than 20 years of his life to this country.

Yes, these are just the first steps and the first document. After twenty years of waiting, Ilya is still optimistic about the future and hopes that Ukraine will finally recognize it.

Team R2P expresses our sincere gratitude for the cooperation to help this lonely man to the staff of the Apostolivskyy district sector of the State Migration Service of Ukraine in the Dnipropetrovsk region, Zelenodolsk City Council, and to the social issues specialist of the I category Fandyushyna Tetiana!

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13.08.21

Recently the meeting of the Supervisory Board of the Charitable Fund “Right to Protection” (R2P) was held. During this meeting, the results of the organization’s work throughout the last year are traditionally being summed up. During the meeting, the participants discussed the 2020 Annual Report, presented by the President of the Fund Oleksandr Galkin.

Засідання Наглядової ради благодійного фонду «Право на захист»: презентовано річний звіт за 2020 рік

According to Mark Hetfield, Vice-Chair of the Supervisory Board, President, and CEO of HIAS, the presented results and quantitative performance of the organization confirm that the team has met the challenges of the difficult past year. In agreement with all members of the Supervisory Board, the Annual Report, which provides comprehensive information on the organization’s activities in 2020, and all its financial indicators will be published on the website of the CF “Right to Protection” (R2P) and distributed to the donors and partners.

Oleksandr Galkin shared information on the organization’s achievements as of August 2021, as well as the results of the organization’s work in relatively new areas: ecology, Disaster Risk Reduction in eastern Ukraine, cooperation with the amalgamated territorial communities (ATCs), and civil-military administrations (CMAs), access to social services and the peacebuilding. Due to the expansion of the thematic range of activities of the organization in 2021, an additional $1.3 million was raised from 8 new donor organizations.

Melinda Haring, member of the Supervisory Board, Deputy Director of the Eurasia Center, Atlantic Council noted that the development of the new areas continues to be active and strengthens the position of the R2P as a leading NGO in the field of human rights, legal analysis and advocacy. Based on the course chosen by the organization for dynamic development and work in the new areas, it was decided to update the strategy of the Fund.

Jock Mendoza-Wilson, member of the Supervisory Board and Director

of International and Investor Relations at SCM agreed with other Board members. He noted that the announced plans regarding the need to revise the strategy and strengthen organizational development are especially relevant and offered expert support in formulating the strategy by members of the supervisory board.

The participants of the meeting agreed that the next meeting will take place in November.

R2P 2020 Annual Report
is available for download:

ENGLISH

UKRAINIAN

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