On 12 June 2024, a Steering committee meeting of the Council of Europe Project “Facilitating access to human rights and essential services for internally displaced persons and returnees at the community level” took place in Kyiv.
The Project is being implemented under the framework of the Council of Europe Action Plan for Ukraine “Resilience, Recovery and Reconstruction” 2023-2026.
The project aims at facilitating access to human rights and essential services for internally displaced persons (IDPs) and returnees at the community level by supporting the development and advancement of relevant policies and practices, enhancing the capacities of displaced institutions and empowering civil society organisations to address displacement-related needs in host communities.
Participants were welcomed by Ms Lilja Gretarsdottir, Head of Co-operation Programmes Division, Department of Implementation of Human Rights, Justice and Legal Co-operation Standards, Mr Erlend Falch, Deputy Head of the Council of Europe Office in Ukraine, and Mr Mykhailo Latynskiy, Deputy Minister of the Ministry for Reintegration of the Temporarily Occupied Territories of Ukraine.
The Project will operate until 31 January 2026 focusing on three main pillars:
- I. Supporting the national and local authorities in developing and implementing integration and re-integration policies and practices for IDPs and returnees.
- II. Strengthening the capacities of displaced institutions in deploying and delivering services after relocation.
- III. Empowering civil society organisations in affecting the human rights framework for IDPs and returnees.
The meeting provided a space for co-ordination and discussion of the Project work plan. A number of stakeholders working with IDPs were consulted: Ombudsperson Office in Ukraine, civil society organizations and UNHCR in Kyiv, the Embassies of the countries contributed to the Council of Europe Action Plan for Ukraine 2023-2026.
Participants voiced out constructive feedback and suggestions for the draft work plan of the Project that is to be finalized and implemented in 2024.
