The protection of the rights and freedoms of internally displaced persons was the main issue discussed during the meeting of the Chairman of the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine Ruslan Stefanchuk with the UN Special Rapporteur on the human rights of internally displaced persons Paula Gaviria Betancur and the IDP Protection Expert Group, IPEG.
“Due to russia’s armed aggression, 11 million Ukrainians remain internally displaced, five million of them within Ukraine, and another 6.2 million are seeking safety abroad,” said the Speaker of the Parliament of Ukraine.
During the meeting, he called for using the Special Rapporteurэs mandate and leverage to promote the issue of russia’s responsibility on international platforms. “If we do not receive the fact of russia’s responsibility for the aggression that began in 2014 and 2022, this will only encourage the aggressor to continue its attack on Ukraine,” the Chairman of the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine stressed.
In addition, Ruslan Stefanchuk spoke about the laws adopted by the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine to protect internally displaced persons. In particular, this is the Law of Ukraine on the release of IDPs from the negative consequences of defaulting on monetary obligations under credit and loan agreements. Also in 2022, the Ukrainian Parliament amended the relevant article of the Law of Ukraine “On Ensuring the Rights and Freedoms of Internally Displaced Persons”, extending its effect to internally displaced persons who moved from the territories that were occupied after the beginning of the large-scale armed aggression of the russian federation.
At the same time, the Chairman of the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine informed that the relevant Committee of the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine on Human Rights, De-occupation and Reintegration of the Temporarily Occupied Territories of Ukraine, National Minorities and Interethnic Relations prepared for the second reading the draft law No. 9310 on amendments to the Law of Ukraine “On Ensuring the Rights and Freedoms of Internally Displaced Persons” regarding certain issues of providing internally displaced persons with housing for temporary residence. Ruslan Stefanchuk emphasised that this draft law could help to resolve the housing issue to some extent.
In conclusion, the Chairman of the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine expressed his gratitude that the international community is making significant efforts to ensure that the war in Ukraine ends with a victory of Ukraine.