Chairperson of Verkhovna Rada Committee on Science and Education Liliya Hrynevych has taken part in debates on migration at the 133rd Assembly of the Inter-Parliamentary Union in Geneva.
The Ukrainian delegation takes part in the debates to explain the world what difficulties the internally displaced persons face due to the conflict in Donbas supported by Russia.
"People continue to leave their homes despite the announcement of the ceasefire. The number of internally displaced persons today makes up about 1.5 million and most of them are the migrants from the eastern regions, where the terrorists hinder the Ukrainian Government from delivering water, food and medicines there," Liliya Hrynevych said.
Besides, the Chairperson of the Committee informed how much the events in Donbas affect Ukraine. She added that 66% of internally displaced persons were women and 31% — children. According to Hrynevych, these groups of people are the most vulnerable and demand particular protection of the state, including psychological assistance of specialists and support in employment.
Hrynevych noted that the state pays particular attention to the protection of children and women staying in the antiterrorist operation zone, inter alia from explosives left by the terrorists. According to the Chairperson of the Committee, UNICEF provides considerable assistance to Ukraine in that field.
At the end of the speech, Liliya Hrynevych reminded that the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine had adopted the Law "On protection of rights and freedoms of internally displaced persons," which was elaborated in cooperation with the Council of Europe. She thanked the world community for support.