Appeal to the President of Ukraine for the Urgent Signing of the Law Facilitating the Integration of Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) into New Communities – Громадський холдинг "ГРУПА ВПЛИВУ"
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Appeal to the President of Ukraine for the Urgent Signing of the Law Facilitating the Integration of Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) into New Communities ➜

Dear Volodymyr Oleksnadrovych,

We, representatives of civil society, show you our respect and gratitude for the firm commitment to Ukraine’s integration into the EU democratic space, reform of local self-government, support for the development of democracy, and the strengthening of civic engagement.

Since 2014, the civil society sector has been raising concerns over restrictions on access of internally displaced persons (IDPs) to tools of local democracy. Some local self-government bodies provided for the possibility of those who do not have a registered place of residence in communities to use particular tools of civic engagement. Along with that, certain restrictions are still in place at the national level, which prevents IDPs from fully integrating and participating in local governance.

On 9 May 2024, the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine approved the Law of Ukraine “On Amendments to Certain Laws of Ukraine on Democracy at the Level of Local Self-Government” (reg. No. 7283) by 317 votes. The Law is geared towards making citizens engaged in activities of local self-government bodies through advisory tools and bringing the legislation in line with the Recommendations of the Council of Europe. In the 2024 plan of reforms by the Ministry for Communities, Territories and Infrastructure Development of Ukraine, the draft Law No. 7283 was seen as important for the support and development of communities and territories.

Key novelties of the Law:

  • mandatory approval of charters of territorial communities by local councils,
  • integration of internally displaced persons into host communities,
  • stronger engagement of youth and civil society organisations in decision-making in communities,
  • detailed procedure for holding general meetings, public hearings, public evaluation, introduction of local initiatives,
  • definition for “resident” and opportunity for residents to participate in local budgeting,
  • improvement of procedures for reporting by community leaders and members of local councils.

We ask you to urgently sign the Law of Ukraine No. 3703-ІХ “On Amendments to Certain Laws of Ukraine on Democracy at the Level of Local Self-Government” adopted by the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine (reg. No. 7283).

We believe that the entry into force of this Law will help ensure a transparent and accountable system of governance at the community level, especially in the context of the country’s recovery when joint efforts and trust between the public and authorities are crucial. An increase in joint accountability of citizens and local authorities, as provided for by this Law, will help engage communities in making decisions that directly affect their territories and ensure sustainable development.

Non-governmental organisations:

  1. NGO Civil Holding “GROUP OF INFLUENCE”
  2. NGO “Ukrainian Center for Independent Political Research”
  3. CF Kherson Community Foundation “Zakhyst”
  4. Human Rights Centre ZMINA
  5. Crimean Human Rights Group
  6. NGO “Donbas SOS”
  7. NGO “Volyn Institute of Law”
  8. NGO” Association for Support and Development of Association of Co-Owners of Apartment Buildings and Bodies of Self-Organisation of Population”
  9. CF “EAST SOS”
  10. NGO “Center for Social Development and Initiatives”
  11. NGO “Access Point”
  12. NGO “Spilno HUB”
  13. CF “Stabilization Support Services”
  14. NGO Center “Dobrochyn”
  15. NGO “Chernihiv Center for Human Rights”
  16. NGO “Brainstorm”
  17. NGO “Youth Debate Federation of Ukraine”
  18. NGO “Modern Format”
  19. NGO “CrimeaSOS”
  20. NGO “Kryvyi Rih Egida-Center”
  21. NGO “Donetsk Institute for Social Research and Political Analysis”
  22. NGO “MART”
  23. Association “Civic Initiatives of Ukraine”
  24. CO ICF “Nova Kakhovka Is Ukraine”
  25. CO CF “LASKA”
  26. NGO IDP Organization “Needed People”
  27. NGO “Vinnytsia Press Club”
  28. NGO “Lion’s Society”
  29. NGO “Nashe Podillia”
  30. NGO “Network of Civil Society Hubs of Ukraine”
  31. NGO Center for Civic and Cultural Initiatives Support “Tamarisk”
  32. NGO Centre “Women’s Perspectives”
  33. NGO Kremenchuk Informative-Elucidative Center “European Club”
  34. NGO “Alternative”
  35. NGO “Academy of Strategic Studies”
  36. NGO Center for Civic and Cultural Initiatives Support “Tamarisk”
  37. NGO Sustainable Development Agency “Skyscraper”
  38. NGO “Territory of Success”
  39. CF “Right to Protection”
  40. Chernivtsi Regional NGO “Committee of Voters”
  41. Centre of Public Initiatives “Ideas for Change”
  42. NGO “Bukovyna Center for Election Technologies”
  43. NGO Veteran’s Hub “Unbreakable”
  44. Civil Network OPORA
  45. Ukrainian Child Rights Network
  46. NGO “Institute Respublica”
  47. Kamianets-Podilskyi Association of “Prosvita” Society named after Taras Shevchenko
  48. All-Ukrainian Initiative “Active Community”
  49. Active Community Initiative
  50. NGO “Zhytomyr Volunteer Headquarters”
  51. NGO “Mega Society”
  52. NGO “Pivnichna Horlytsia”
  53. NGO “Community Development Fund”
  54. NGO Center “Family”
  55. NGO “Yustyna”
  56. NGO Personal Development Hub “TRY KOTE”
  57. NGO “COMMUNITY LEAGUE”
  58. Institute for Social Research and Political Analysis
  59. NGO Community Development Agency “Intonatsia ZMIN”
  60. NGO “Bereznivska BRAMA”
  61. Editor’s Office of “Slovo Pravdy” newspaper
  62. NGO “Donetsk Press Club”
  63. NGO “Peremoha”
  64. NGO “Yustyna”
  65. NGO “Union of Konotop Community”
  66. NGO “MARTIN-club”
  67. IDP Initiative in Koziatyn
  68. Coalition “On the Contact Line”
  69. NGO “Strong Communities”
  70. NGO “UA group”
  71. NGO “Committee of Voters of Ukraine”
  72. Municipal Non-Commercial Enterprise “Vyzhnytsia City Hospital”
  73. NGO “Horizon of Changes”
  74. Public Alliance “Political Action of Women”
  75. NGO “SLID”
  76. NGO “August Virlych Foundation”
  77. Municipal Non-Commercial Enterprise “Novoselytsia Hospital”
  78. NGO “Barrier-Free Ternopil”
  79. NGO “Mist 3.10”
  80. NGO “Dobro Time”
  81. Koriukivka City Youth NGO “Alternative”
  82. NGO “Together to a Successful Business”
  83. NGO “New Kalyta”
  84. NGO “Podil Legal League”
  85. NGO Carpathian Human Rights Agency “WESTED”
  86. NGO Chernihiv Educational Center “Initiative”
  87. NGO “Odesa Institute of Social Technologies”
  88. NGO “Center for Community Development”, Kharkiv
  89. NGO Advocacy and Analytics Platform “Chas Hromad”
  90. NGO “HILFE”
  91. NGO “Women’s Anti-Corruption Movement”
  92. NGO “Laboratory of Culture Research”
  93. NGO “Ukrainian Youth Club”
  94. Odesa Regional Organization of VGO “Committee of Voters of Ukraine”
  95. All-Ukrainian NGO “Association for the Promotion of Self-Organization of the Population”
  96. NGO “Innovative Bukovyna Fund”
  97. NGO “Civil Society Development Forum”
  98. Society “Ukrainian National House in Chernivtsi”
  99. NGO “Agency for Regional Development of Prybuzhzhia”
  100. NGO “Chernivtsi Regional Society of Children of Political Prisoners and Repressed “HEIRS”
  101. Chernivtsi Association “Zakhyst”
  102. NGO Civic Center “New Generation”
  103. NGO “Mykolaiv City Development Fund”
  104. NGO Center of Development of Communities “Idea. Action. Result”
  105. NGO Regional Development Centre “Top-Kaya”
  106. Khmelnytskyi District Public Organization “PRAVO”
  107. NGO “Media Development Fund”
  108. NGO “Volunteer Movement of Bukovyna”
  109. NGO “Open Data Association”
  110. Polish-Ukrainian Cooperation Foundation PAUCI
  111. CO “Zhytomyr Community Foundation”
  112. NGO “Lab for Democratic Transformations”
  113. NGO “Lyuk Media Group”
  114. NGO “Transcarpathian Public Centre”
  115. NGO “Institute of Transborder Initiatives”
  116. NGO “Make Sense”
  117. NGO “Training and Consulting Center for Access to Information”
  118. Rivne Regional Organization of the All-Ukrainian Civil Organisation “Civil Network OPORA”
  119. NGO “Proryv-Misto”
  120. NGO “Youth Space of Drohobych”
  121. PO “Innovation Action”
  122. NGO “Psychability”
  123. Centre for Social Capital Development
  124. All-Ukrainian NGO “Association for Community Self-Organization Assistance”
  125. NGO “Center for Political Studies”
  126. Czech Humanitarian and Human Rights Organisation “People in Need”
  127. NGO “Power of the Future”
  128. NGO “We Are from Kharkiv!”
  129. International Charity Fund “Indifferent”
  130. Charitable Fund of Social Reforms and Support “Hope”
  131. Voznesensk Association “Our Town”
  132. NGO “KOMROZ”
  133. PO “Dnipropetrovsk Regional Youth Council”
  134. Berdychiv City Youth NGO “Youth Chooses Life”
  135. NGO “Media East”
  136. PO “Mariupol Association of Entrepreneurs”
  137. CO Charity Fund “Rodina LG”
  138. PO Union of People with Disabilities “Perspective”
  139. CO Charitable Fund “Help Donbas Battalion”
  140. Public Union “First Kharkiv Humanitarian Hub”
  141. Future Development Agency
  142. PO “Sustainable Development of the State”
  143. PO Association “Revival and Development”
  144. PO “Space for Positive Change”
  145. Kryvyi Rih Society of Political Prisoners and Victims of Repression
  146. NGO “Agency of City Initiatives”
  147. Civil Association “The League of the Strong”
  148. PO “Educational and Analytical Center of Community Development”
  149. NGO Cherkashchy Umanshchyny
  150. NGO Dream in Action
  151. PO “SIM Legal and Political Research Center”
  152. Ukrainian Education Platform
  153. PO “Safe Birth”
  154. PO “Accessible Cinema”
  155. Black Sea Center for Political and Social Research
  156. PO “U-Generation”
  157. Regional Development Agency of Volyn Oblast
  158. Transparency International Ukraine
  159. Vinnytsia Regional Organization of the All-Ukrainian Union of People with Disabilities “USI”
  160. NGO “BikeIntegration”

Individual signees:

Romaliiska Maryna

Pustova Olena

Bediak Halyna Mykolaiivna

Halak Oksana

Mikhno Viktoriia Oleksandrivna

Pokhno Oksana

Bikla Olena Volodymyrivna

Libova Inna Andriivna

Libov Volodymyr Abramovych

Dolhopolova Yuliia Petrivna

Rakocha Maia Ivanivna

Bondarenko Anastasia

Kovalenko Svitlana Mykolaiivna

Vashchuk-Ohdanska Oksana