Fostering Democratic Citizenship in Times of War
05.04.2022
Training for Members of Election Commissions – Methodical Guidelines for Organizing and Conducting Election and Referenda Administration Training Sessions
15.04.2022
Around 10.5 million people – more than a quarter of the Ukrainian population – have been forcibly displaced by the ongoing military offensive, including nearly 6.5 million internally displaced and more than 4 million displaced across international borders.
To support IDPs affected by the Russian war against Ukraine and helping them adapt to life in new communities, IFES and its partner, the Group of Influence (GoI) nongovernmental organization, launched an information campaign in social media. It explains Ukrainian legislation that guarantees civic rights and access to essential services for the population in Ukraine affected by the war. Informational posts are placed on the GoI Facebook page where Ukrainians can find out how to:
- reimburse communal expenses of the hromada – or local community government – budget for IDPs;
- receive IDP certificate online and through Centers of Administrative Services to apply for e-support services;
- extend the service period of Oschadbank cards to continue receiving social benefits; and,
- get relevant status for Ukrainians who left the country (tourists, refugees or temporarily asylum).
IFES and GoI are also developing a comprehensive program to engage an IDP regional coalition from 2014 to share experiences with new IDPs on how to access basic services, integrate in new communities and cooperate with local self-government and military-civil administration to advocate for IDP rights and inclusion.
“Thanks to the long-term and systematic support of IFES and international donors since 2016, we could build a strong coalition of IDP NGOs and activists in the regions,” says Tetyana Durnyeva, Group of Influence Board Chair (in the photo). “Now, in conditions of war, this social capital could be used to the maximum to help new internally displaced persons, volunteers and local government coordinate activities directed to IDP assistance and inclusion in new communities. The trust and experience gained over the years of working to protect electoral rights of internally displaced persons help activists from all regions of Ukraine, government officials and international partners immediately respond to new challenges related to escalation of the war in Ukraine.”
