17 November 2015, 17:35
Chairperson of the Verkhovna Rada Committee on Human Rights, National Minorities and Interethnic Relations Hryhorii Nemyria noted that the issue of protection of rights and freedoms of internally displaced persons is one of the greatest problems Ukraine is facing today.
"This problem requires our constant attention. Only the official calculations give us the figure of 1.5 million internally displaced persons and their number is still increasing," Nemyria said in an interview for Director of the Journalists Support Center V.Zhuhai in the frames of the project entitled "Advocacy and Legal Support to Internally Displaced Persons in Ukraine," which is implemented by the Danish Refugee Council in Ukraine under the financial support of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees.
Nemyria reminded that at first, the Government intended to ignore the problem.
"There was no political will. The acknowledgement of the problem and start of elaboration of respective state policy in this field took too much time," he said having reminded about different aspects of protection of rights and freedoms of internally displaced persons: economic, social and political ones, including the protection of active electoral right.
The Chairperson of the Committee informed about recent adoption of the draft law No. 2166 "On amendments to some Laws of Ukraine" (as to enhancing protection of rights and freedoms of internally displaced persons). He noted the Law would intensify the protection of internally displaced persons rights basing on the principles of the United Nations.
"We hope this Law will be signed by the President to launch its implementation as soon as possible," he said.
Besides, Nemyria reminded about the draft law No. 2167 "On amendments to Law of Ukraine "On protection of rights and freedoms of internally displaced persons" (as to compensation of damaged property), which was offered by the Verkhovna Rada Committee on Human Rights, National Minorities and Interethnic Relations and consideration of which at the Ukrainian Parliament was blocked.
"The internally displaced persons did not go abroad, they stayed in our state and are the citizens of Ukraine. They should not feel neglected. We have to protect their rights and freedoms," he said. "Loyalty and patriotism are not the result of beautiful mottos. They are the product of real care of the state," he added.