The Committee hearings entitled "Progress of the implementation of the legislation on social protection of war veterans, victims of Nazi persecution and children of war" were held on April 20.
This year Ukraine commemorates the 71st anniversary of victory in the World War II.
The legal basis for pension provision and social protection of war veterans, victims of Nazi persecution and children of war includes the laws of Ukraine "On the status of war veterans, guarantees of their social protection," "On the status of military veterans, veterans of law enforcement agencies and certain other persons and their social protection," "On compulsory state pension insurance," "On pension provision to persons discharged from the military service and certain other persons," "On the victims of Nazi persecution," "On social protection of children of war" and other legislative acts of Ukraine.
Pursuant to the Law of Ukraine "On the status of war veterans, guarantees of their social protection," war veterans include disabled war veterans, combatants, and war veterans.
During the period of 2015 – 2016, amendments were made to this Law, which stipulates that the status of disabled war veteran, combatant or war veteran is granted to respective categories of participants of the antiterrorist operation.
The effect of the Law on the status of war veterans also applies to family members of the killed (dead) persons belonging to the category of war veterans, and Heroes of the Heavenly Hundred (hereinafter –survivors).
Pursuant to the Law of Ukraine "On the victims of Nazi persecution," persons belonging to the victims of Nazi persecution are, in particular, former prisoners of concentration camps, ghettos and other places of forced detention and places of forced labor during the Great Patriotic War and the World War II.
According to the Law of Ukraine "On social protection of children of war," a child of war is a citizen of Ukraine who was under 18 years old at the time of the termination of the World War II (September 2, 1945).
The number of war veterans, victims of Nazi persecution and children of war is decreasing every year. As at today it exceeds 4.2 million persons (about 122,000 disabled war veterans, 130,000 combatants, 665,000 war veterans, 220,000 survivors, 10,000 victims of Nazi persecution and 3.1 million children of war).
At the same time, unfortunately, due to the war in Eastern Ukraine, growing is the number of disabled veterans and combatants from among the participants of the antiterrorist operation. As at today, over 204,000 participants in the antiterrorist operation received the status of combatants.
During the hearings, its participants discussed problems of social protection the most painful for war veterans, namely treatment, rehabilitation, spa recreation, housing, etc.
Committee Chairperson Oleksandr Tretiakov in his concluding speech said that the Committee members are aware of all problems war veterans, children of war and victims of Nazi persecution are facing.
"Unfortunately, now we can not be proud of great achievements in improving the social protection of these people. But still we are trying to stand by our promise. One year ago at the hearings conducted by the Committee, war veterans asked to settle the issue of abolishing taxation of pensions of World War II veterans, disabled veterans and survivors. This problem was solved. The Law No.653, elaborated by people’s deputies - members of our Committee, came into effect from September 1, 2015. We proved that we keep our promise, and remain committed to constructive work," said the Chairperson of the Committee.
He also noted that participants of the previous hearings asked to restore the right for privileges in payments for utility service for war veterans, children of war, victims of Nazi persecution, and survivors, not taking into account family incomes. But they petitioned the most for the survivors benefits.
And to this effect, people’s deputies - members of the Committee submitted corresponding draft law No.3150. It was extremely difficult question. According to estimates of the Ministry of Social Policy, to restore privileges in payments for housing and public utility services to all survivors requires over UAH 500 million per year. Thus, unfortunately, as a first step, we have managed to restore the right for privileges in payments for housing and public utility services, not taking into account family incomes, only for survivors of ATO participants and Heroes of the Heavenly Hundred.
Despite all this, the Committee members are confident that constructive, well-grounded proposals on the social protection of our veterans will find support not only of the Committee members, but of the entire Parliament.