84% of local self-government employees do not have information on the number and profile of returnees from abroad to their communities. Almost 60% of the participants in the survey conducted by the NGO "Association of Small Towns of Ukraine" noted that the community does not have strategies, programs or action plans to support returnees to Ukraine. At the same time, representatives of local self-government bodies are ready to acquire knowledge and skills on support systems for returnees and are waiting for a general state strategy on this issue.
On January 28, 2025, the NGO "Association of Small Towns of Ukraine" presented a study of local practices of providing services and protecting the rights of returnees to Ukraine, conducted with the support of CoE Project Facilitating access to human rights and essential services for internally displaced persons and returnees at the community level
The study was based on surveys and in-depth interviews of local government employees regarding the services available in communities to support returnees, awareness of the profile of such people, their needs, as well as successful practices, challenges and opportunities for improvement in this area.
261 people took part in the survey. The largest group of respondents was represented by the heads of social protection departments.
123 participants joined the discussion of the results of the study on the online platform "Supermarket of Solutions" of the Association of Small Towns of Ukraine.
The result of the study, among other things, was proposals to improve access to rights and services for returnees to Ukraine.
Such proposals, according to Oksana Kyryliuk, Deputy Head of the Association of Small Towns of Ukraine for International Cooperation, are: development of the information component, creation of a state strategy for reintegration, preparation of communities for the return of people, training and advanced training of local self-government specialists, strengthening intersectoral cooperation.
According to Olesia Myronets-Matushchenko, Head of the Project and Investment Sector of the Berezne City Council, Head of the IDP Council at the Rivne Regional Military Administration and the Berezne City Council, training local self-government specialists on the peculiarities of the profile of returnees, support systems, and features of services should be the key to improvement in this area.
Ihor Ivakhniuk, Deputy Head of the Department of Social Policy of the Kolomyia City Council, emphasized the importance of a unified state strategy for return and reintegration. "Such a strategy should become a guide for communities in shaping their own plans and strategies to support people returning to Ukraine."
Svitlana Butenko, Senior Project Officer of the Council of Europe, noted the importance of complying with international and European standards for the protection of human rights of returnees to Ukraine. A summary of these standards and policies can be found on the Project website.
