UNHCR and the Ombudsman of Ukraine strengthen cooperation to protect the rights of displaced and other war-affected people [EN/UK]

Kyiv, 19 August 2024: Today UNHCR, the UN Refugee Agency, Representative in Ukraine, Karolina Lindholm Billing, and the Ukrainian Parliament Commissioner for Human Rights, Dmytro Lubinets, signed a Memorandum of Understanding to reinforce collaboration in protecting the rights of war-affected and internally displaced people (IDPs), returnees, refugees and stateless people in Ukraine.

The Memorandum solidifies a longstanding partnership focused on safeguarding the rights and dignity of all people living in Ukraine and supporting the ability of those affected by the Russian full-scale invasion to find long-term solutions to their situation. Areas of mutual collaboration include promoting the rights and freedoms of people who have become vulnerable and at risk due to the war and forced displacement as well as the development of legal and strategy frameworks on the inclusion and reintegration of returnees into the hosting and receiving communities.

The Memorandum of Understanding marks a significant milestone in UNHCR’s already close collaboration with the Government of Ukraine and its national and regional authorities– and it adds to UNHCR’s existing cooperation agreements with four line ministries and 19 regional oblast administrations authorities, and with more in the pipeline.

“I am very grateful to the Ombudsman and his team for the close and efficient partnership we have enjoyed over the past years and his commitment to further strengthen this and our collective efforts in upholding the rights and dignity of displaced and war-affected people across Ukraine. As UNHCR, we maintain our commitment to do everything within our capacity and resources to help people equally access and enjoy their rights and fundamental freedoms and live an empowered life in dignity, whether in their original home community or in displacement”, said UNHCR’s Representative in Ukraine, Karolina Lindholm Billing.

“The Ombudsman’s Office has been working closely with UNHCR for a long time: we have joint projects, including humanitarian and educational ones, conducting monitoring visits to temporary accommodation centers of IDPs and exchanging information. Recently, with the support from UNHCR, we managed to open a Human Rights Protection Centre in Ivano-Frankivsk. I am convinced that our cooperation will continue to be as effective as ever and will contribute to solving humanitarian and other problems of Ukrainians affected by the war. I am grateful to our partners for their close cooperation and support ”, said Dmytro Lubinets, Ukrainian Parliament Commissioner for Human Rights

An example of the ongoing mutual collaboration is the recent opening in July of the first Human Rights Protection Centre in the Ivano-Frankivsk region. The centre was established to enhance the protection of people’s human rights and freedoms. It serves as a resource for the community, offering a public reception area, counseling services, a children’s space, and a hub for public initiatives. Located in the Warrior’s House, it is fully inclusive and accessible for people with disabilities and other low-mobility groups, ensure equal access for all in need. The plan is to open more such centres in other locations.

Following Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine on 24 February 2022, UNHCR has supported 4.3 million people in Ukraine in 2022 with different humanitarian and recovery programmes; 2.63 million people in 2023; and has so far in 2024 delivered nearly 990,000 multisectoral services to war-affected people across the country. Since 2022, UNHCR and partners have provided more than 425,000 legal consultations to people, helping them to restore lost or damaged documents or to access services and benefits.