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Category: Internally Displaced Persons

16.02.21

Today we present the report ‘Crossing the contact line’ for January 2021, prepared by the NGO ‘Right to Protection’. 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.

HIGHLIGHTS:    

  • During the month, crossing the contact line remained possible only through two EECPs: Novotroitske in Donetska Oblast and Stanytsia Luhanska in Luhanska Oblast, at a level considerably below the preCOVID period. The number of people crossing the contact line decreased in January compared to December by 43 percent due to the winter holidays: 27,480 and 48,000 respectively.
  • On 5 January, the Cabinet of Ministers adopted changes to Resolution №1236, according to which it is allowed to test persons arriving from NGCA for COVID-19 not only by PCR, but also by using a rapid antigen test. Donetska and Luhanska Regional State Administrations were instructed to ensure the functioning of necessary testing points at EECPs. The rapid test will be free of charge for Ukrainian citizens. The tests were purchased at the expense of the state budget, the Ministry of Health signed an order on the distribution of 1.8 million tests. In case of a negative result, the data is automatically displayed in “Vdoma” app and the person is released from self-isolation. As of the end of January, 156 people took advantage of the opportunity to pass a rapid test for COVID-19 at Novotroitske EECP. Meanwhile, Stanytsia Luhanska EECP was not provided with rapid tests, therefore people crossing the сontact line in the GCA direction at Stanytsia Luhanska EECP had to pay for passing PCR test in two private laboratories located at the EECP.
  • Out of those surveyed for 83 percent cash withdrawal was the main type of service they used at Stanytsia Luhanska EECP.
  • Of those respondents who were concerned about any issues, the majority of them cited possible issues with a permit as the main reason for their concern. This may be caused by the fact that people faced with a complex procedure of document submission as at Novotrotske EECP. Besides, 30 percent of those respondents claimed the lack of physical distance as a reason for their concern.
  • During the month of January, 3,695 vulnerable elderly persons were provided with transport support at Stanytsia Luhanska EECP by the NGO “Proliska” e-vehicle. 

The report is available in English and in Ukrainian. 

  • Report ‘Crossing the contact line’, January 2021
  • Report ‘Crossing the contact line’, January 2021

The report is based on the results of a survey conducted by R2P at the five EECPs to enter the NGCA and administered on a regular basis since June 2017. The survey is a part of the monitoring of violations of rights of conflict-affected populations within the framework of the project ‘Advocacy, Protection, and Legal Assistance to IDPs’ implemented by R2P, with the support of UNHCR. The purpose of the survey is to explore the reasons and concerns of those traveling from the NGCA to the GCA, as well as conditions and risks associated with crossing the line of contact through EECPs. The information collected in the survey helps identify protection needs, gaps, and trends, and provides an evidentiary basis for advocacy efforts. 

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16.02.21

До вашої уваги – моніторинговий звіт «Перетин лінії розмежування через КПВВ» за січень 2021 року, підготовлений БФ «Право на захист» на основі даних, зібраних під час моніторингу ситуації на КПВВ. Більше статистичних даних можна знайти за посиланням.   

ГОЛОВНЕ:    

  • Протягом місяця, перетин лінії розмежування можливо було здійснити лише через два КПВВ: «Новотроїцьке» в Донецькій області та «Станиця Луганська» в Луганській. Це призвело до зменшення кількості перетинів порівняно з періодом до введення карантинних обмежень. Загальна кількість перетинів лінії розмежування знизилася на 43%  у січні проти грудня (27 480 та 48 000 відповідно), що може бути пов’язано з зимовими святами.
  • 5 січня Кабінет Міністрів ухвалив зміни до Постанови № 1236, згідно з якими допускається тестувати осіб, які прибувають з непідконтрольної території на COVID-19, не тільки методом  ПЛР, а й за допомогою експрес-тесту на антиген. Донецькій і Луганській облдержадміністраціям доручено забезпечити функціонування пунктів тестування на КПВВ. Проведення експрестесту є безкоштовним для громадян України. Тести закупили коштом держбюджету, МОЗ підписав наказ про розподіл 1,8 млн тестів. У разі негативного результату дані автоматично відображаються в додатку «Вдома», і людина звільняється від самоізоляції. Станом на кінець січня, 156 осіб скористалися можливістю пройти експрестест на COVID-19 на КПВВ «Новотроїцьке». Тим часом, КПВВ «Станиця Луганська» не було забезпечено експрестестами, тому люди, які перетинають лінію розмежування в напрямку ПУТ на КПВВ «Станиця Луганська», можуть пройти тільки платний ПЛР-тест в двох приватних лабораторіях, розташованих на цьому КПВВ.
  • Згідно з опитуванням, основним видом послуг на КПВВ «Станиця Луганська», яким скористалися 83% людей, було зняття готівки.
  • Більшість тих респондентів, які були стурбовані будь-якими питаннями, в якості основної причини занепокоєння вказала на можливі проблеми з дозволом на перетин лінії розмежування. Це може бути викликано тим, що люди зіткнулися зі складною процедурою подання документів, як на КПВВ «Новотроїцьке». Крім того, 30% респондентів назвали причиною свого занепокоєння відсутність фізичної дистанції.
  • Протягом січня 3 695 вразливих осіб похилого віку отримали допомогу в транспортуванні на КПВВ «Станиця Луганська» електромобілем від НУО «Проліска».

Документ можна завантажити українською та англійською.

Звіт містить інформацію, зібрану БФ «Право на захист» в межах опитування, що регулярно проводиться з червня 2017 року. КПВВ розташовані в Донецькій («Майорське», «Мар’їнка», «Гнутове» та «Новотроїцьке») та Луганській («Станиця Луганська») областях. Опитування є частиною моніторингу порушення прав населення, що постраждало від конфлікту, та проводиться в межах проекту «Адвокація, захист та правова допомога внутрішньо переміщеним особам України», що реалізується БФ «Право на захист» за підтримки Агентства ООН у справах біженців (UNHCR). Таке опитування має на меті з’ясувати причини, умови та ризики, які супроводжують перетин лінії зіткнення через КПВВ. Зібрана під час опитування інформація допоможе визначити потреби, прогалини та тенденції, а також забезпечити доказову базу для діяльності з адвокації.    

Звіт «Перетин лінії розмежування через КПВВ», січень 2021 року

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16.02.21

Electronic public services reform is currently ongoing in Ukraine. «Digitalization» has become especially relevant right now during the COVID-19 pandemic, as it allows people not to stand in long lines just to be provided with governmental services.

Mobility and possibilities of internally displaced persons (IDPs), as well as of residents of Non-Government Controlled Areas of Ukraine are limited due to different factors. For them, the online services are especially useful. 

We offer you to watch a series of thematic videos from the «Legal Advisor for IDPs» with step-by-step instructions on how to access public services in a convenient format, anywhere, anytime with only an Internet-connected device*.

*Videos are in Ukrainian language

How to receive public services online? «Legal Adviser for IDPs» explains! Як отримати державну допомогу онлайн Відеоінструкція від Юридичного порадника для ВПО

Take an advantage of remote access to public services!

Norwegian Refugee Council in Ukraine

E-Governance for Accountability and Participation (EGAP)

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10.02.21

Since the introduction of the quarantine, many internally displaced persons (IDPs) living in hromadas have faced the question of whether targeted assistance will continue. As many of it’s recipients are at risk and are not able to apply for it due to quarantine restrictions. 

Fortunately, the state took into account the needs of the citizens in this matter – and regulations have been amended, according to which targeted assistance automatically continues for the period of quarantine and plus 30 days after the end of it. 

During the quarantine legal norm is suspended, according to which an internally displaced person who resides in the temporarily occupied territory (TOT) for more than 60 days loses the right to receive benefits.

Therefore, if the internally displaced person’s circumstances have changed and he / she claims a larger amount of targeted assistance, then after the end of the quarantine such a person can submit documents for recalculation of the amount of benefits from the moment of new circumstances. However, this rule applies in both directions, i.e. if the circumstances changed during the quarantine and the amount of targeted assistance was more than it was appointed, then after the quarantine sum will be recalculated and the recipient will have to return the overpaid funds.

But there are certain downsides to this story.  From the beginning of 2021, the rules for applying for targeted assistance have changed.  Therefore, from January 1, the application together with the necessary documents is accepted only if it is sent by mail or in electronic form through the official website of the Ministry of Social Policy of Ukraine. 

In addition, the profile resolution states that a person may submit documents to officials of the executive body of the village, settlement, city council of the relevant Amalgamated territorial community (hromada) or to the Administrative Service Center (ASC).

On paper, everything looks okay, but it is unclear how the procedure will actually work. After all, ASCs do not accept such documents, and in order to submit documents to the representatives of the hromada it is necessary for it to be connected to a special service “Social Hromada”.  

According to the actual data, approximately 1,500 amalgamated territorial communities have been formed in Ukraine. Only up to 500 communities have been connected to the “Social Hromada” portal.

So, what do we have as a result?  

The quarantine was extended until February 28, 2021, and from March 1, 2021 all applications for targeted assistance should be processed by hromada representatives in an electronic form and then sent to the Ministry of Social Policy for assistance accrual.

We will see decentralization as it is, in an action. Do members of local amalgamated communities actually care about vulnerable groups? Is the issue of IDPs on the agenda? 

The answers to the above questions will depend on how quickly communities join the “Social Hromada” service and establish the process of assigning and providing social benefits.

We would like to advise internally displaced persons not to wait and start acting right now on their own. In order to do this, one needs to call the local authorities and ask if the amalgamated community is connected to the “Social Hromada” portal, what is the current procedure for assigning assistance and any other relevant questions.

Анастасія Одінцова ANASTASIIA ODINTSOVA RIGHT TO PROTECTION

 “IDPs are already full members of the amalgamated communities. They were granted the right to participate in local elections and I am sure that the right to receive social benefits in communities will also be implemented in the future” 
– said Anastasia Odintsova, legal analyst at the Right to Protection CF.

UNHCR Ukraine – Aгентство ООН у справах біженців в Україні

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09.02.21

On February 6, in the city of Izium in the Kharkiv region, R2P held consultation for internally displaced persons (IDPs) on the housing issues. 17 people joined the event.

During the consultation event such issues and topics were discussed:

  • The procedure for obtaining temporary housing;
  • Main features of housing programs for IDPs;
  • Housing programs: the hromada/settlement level.

“The housing problem has always been one of the most acute for internally displaced persons.  Given that IDP families have different opportunities and requirements, there is an urgent need for appropriate housing programs.  Only with joint efforts at the state and local levels we can achieve a positive result,”

– said Olena Prykhodko, attorney at Right to Protection CF.
Consultation Відбулась зустріч-консультація для ВПО щодо реалізації права на житло

Consultation was organized within the project “Promotion of Social Infrastructure Development, USIF VI”, with the support of the Ukrainian Social Investment Fund.

Consulting activities are regularly organized by the Right to Protection Charitable Fund and help IDPs to exercise their rights guaranteed by the Constitution, Laws of Ukraine and international norms.

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05.02.21

In context of the decentralization reform a new administrative division system was approved in Ukraine in the mid of 2020. 1469 new territorial communities appeared on the map of the country.

To increase the efficiency of public administrations, the system of districts was optimized and instead of 490 “old” districts, 136 “new” districts were formed. Thus, the preconditions were made for an organization of the local elections in October 2020 on a new administrative division.

However since 2014 many settlements in Donetsk and Luhansk regions have been divided by the “contact line”. Due to non-compliance with international standards of security and democratic electoral process, the next and first local elections in October 2020 failed to be held.

On August 8, 2020, the Central Election Commission of Ukraine (CEC) adopted Resolution № 161, which approved a list of communities where local elections cannot be held. It included 10 villages, settlements and city councils of Donetsk region and 8 in the Luhansk region. Territorial communities where no local elections were held got into a legal collapse, as they could not fully exercise local self-government in order to approve the budget, to open accounts in the treasury, etc. 

In January 2021, some employees of the village, settlement, district, and city councils were not paid their salaries, the funding of educational and cultural institutions stopped due to non-payment of utilities, all the important facilities were on the verge of disconnection from gas and heat supply, administrative service centers have closed down, making it impossible to obtain social services, etc.

Decentralization in Ukraine. Problems and opportunities in Donetsk and Luhansk regions

“Such problems are not uncommon and diverse. Not only citizens, but also representatives of local government have questions to which there are no answers. The only positive solution in the current circumstances will be the establishment of civil-military administrations (CMA) in such territories. Therefore, conditions for the creation of the CMA were changed. ”

– said Alla Skvortsova, lawyer of the Severodonetsk office of the Right to Protection CF.

Relevant amendments to the Law of Ukraine “On Civil-Military Administrations” entered into force on January 14, 2021. Now it is possible to create a CMA not only if local councils do not fulfill their tasks, but also if the CEC has decided that it is impossible to hold local elections in the community. Now the last word is left to the President of Ukraine as the amended version of the law was sent to him for signature.

UNHCR Ukraine – Aгентство ООН у справах біженців в Україні

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02.02.21

The Coalition of Public Human Rights and Charitable Organizations prepared an analysis of the Draft Law of Ukraine “On the State Policy of the Transition Period”.

The draft law is the first comprehensive publicly presented document devoted to the implementation of state policy in the context of the armed conflict and further deoccupation of the currently occupied territories of Ukraine. Draft covers various areas of public policy, including economics, law, and cybersecurity.

Experts of the Coalition of Non-Governmental Organizations analyzed the text of the bill in detail. The analysis indicated the need of further work on conceptual aspects in order to avoid inconsistencies with the provisions of the Legislation of Ukraine and international norms.

“Together with a coalition of human rights NGOs, we worked on a consolidated analysis of this draft law. It is important to say that this is the first document on the issue of transition policy. The bill defines various areas of state policy to be pursued after the end of hostilities and in the context of deoccupation of territories. At the same time, based on the results of the analysis, it can be concluded that a number of provisions of this project need significant refinement. ”

– said Elina Shyshkina, advocacy coordinator at Right to Protection CF

You can view and download the Draft Law Analysis in .pdf format (in Ukrainian)

Висновок коаліції НДО щодо проєкту закону про політику перехідного періоду Conclusion of the NGO coalition on the draft law “On the State Policy of the Transition Period”

The conclusion was prepared by experts of the following organizations:

NGO “DonbasSOS”

NGO “KrymSOS” 

Right to Protection CF

Vostok SOS CF

NGO “Civil holding “GROUP OF INFLUENCE”

Stabilization Support Services in Ukraine CF

ZMINA Human Rights Center

Crimean Human Rights Group (CHRG)

01.02.21

On January 28, Right to Protection CF organized a webinar on the practical aspects of the monetary compensation for destroyed housing. The event was held within the NRC_ECHO project with the support of the Norwegian Refugee Council in Ukraine.

Polina Gorelik and Alla Shcherbyna, lawyers of the Right to Protection CF in Kurakhove were the speakers at the online event. During the webinar our colleagues addressed the following issues:

  • Legal aspects of the compensation for destroyed housing procedure;
  • Who can receive compensation for housing destroyed as a result of a military emergency?;
  • How to exercise the right for compensation;
  • What to do in case of a compensation refusal?

The event was joined by all the interested parties, as well as our beneficiaries, whose houses (apartments) were destroyed as a result of a military emergency.


An online event recording is available on Facebook and YouTube:

We express our sincere gratitude to all who had time to join the webinar!

27.01.21

Today we present the report: “Resolution #767: Challenges and obstacles for participation in the programme”.

This report is mainly based on the results of the survey about intentions, challenges and obstacles encountered during participation in the compensation programme for damaged/destroyed housing objects launched within CMU resolution №767.

In addition, a significant deal of information was gathered during our monitoring visits to plenty of settlements in Donetska and Luhanska oblasts in the period of October-December.  

Overall, our respondents were surveyed on 826 cases, including 325 on destroyed and 501 on damaged housing objects. 

звіт report damaged housing

Our outreach workers and the legal team also took part in some of the commission assessment sessions either as observers or members, thus they had an opportunity to obtain firsthand experience in the implementation of the programme.

By focusing on the perspective of claimants, this report complements a survey conducted by UNHCR in November 2020, which focuses on the functioning of the local assessment commissions, based on observations from R2P and other NGO members or observers in these commissions.  

R2P launched this survey primarily to find out whether this programme is relevant for its target audience, as well as to reveal the pitfalls of the programme from the perspective of participants.

Therefore, we decided to survey our beneficiaries of IDP and conflict-affected background who reportedly had problems with damaged/destroyed housing objects and those potential beneficiaries whom our outreach workers already knew or got to know during field trips.

The survey has been conducted in the period of October-November in Donetsk and Luhansk oblasts via phone and face-to-face interviews. Besides, upon the completion of the survey, some cases were directed to R2P legal team for further investigation.

As a result, our team not only conducted research but also promptly provided assistance to those who were willing to participate in the programme but for some reason experienced difficulties with applying for monetary compensation/assistance.

The report is available in

English and Ukrainian

UNHCR Ukraine – Aгентство ООН у справах біженців в Україні

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