19 February 2016, 10:02
Hryhorii Nemyria has said that Ukraine needs immediate elaboration of the state strategy on protection of rights and freedoms of internally displaced persons and citizens of Ukraine living on temporarily occupied territories in Donetsk and Luhansk regions.
"We have held parliamentary hearings on protection of rights of internally displaced persons and citizens of Ukraine living on temporarily occupied territories. The hearings were aimed at listening to those Ukrainian citizens, and ensure their protection," he told the Rankova Khvylia [Morning Wave] radio show on Hromadske Radio.
"At the moment, we are working on the recommendations of the hearings, which have to become an instrument and a road map for the authorities in this sector."
As earlier reported, on February 17, the Verkhovna Rada Committee on Human Rights, National Minorities and Interethnic Relations initiated the parliamentary hearings entitled "The state of protection of rights of internally displaced persons and Ukrainian citizens living on temporarily occupied territories of Ukraine and on the territory uncontrolled by Ukrainian authorities in the antiterrorist operation zone."
According to Hryhorii Nemyria, "during the preparation for the hearings and during the hearings themselves, the Cabinet of Ministers of Ukraine showed its indifference and incompetence."
"The Cabinet of Ministers of Ukraine ignored the hearings, and appointed deputy ministers as its rapporteurs. The Government does not provide appropriate level [of financing of this sector, there is no special central executive body for internally displaced persons affairs, there is no State Strategy on assistance to internally displaced persons, protection of rights and freedoms of Ukrainian citizens living on temporarily occupied territories of Donetsk and Luhansk regions," he noted.
Hryhorii Nemyria noted that "judging by the speech of Prime Minister Arseniy Yatsenyuk, the Government treats internally displaced persons only as a problem and a challenge."
"This is unacceptable," he said.
The Chairperson of the Committee noted that most part of the internally displaced persons want to return to their homes in Donbas, when security situation allows that.
Hryhorii Nemyria called on the Parliament to adopt the hearings recommendations and on the President, the Cabinet of Ministers of Ukraine and local authorities to start their implementation.