The Analytical Report on the results of the study and monitoring visits "FORCED DISPLACEMENT ABROAD" was presented by the Council of Europe Project "Facilitating access to human rights and essential services for internally displaced persons and returnees at the community level" on March 18, 2025 in Kyiv.
The document comprehensively considers the situation of forcibly displaced people who are abroad, and identifies the conditions that would facilitate their return.
The report combines the results of an online survey and focus group discussions conducted by the Cedos Analytical Center and the results of monitoring visits of the Ombudsman Office to the countries of the European Union. The collected material was comprehended by the Ombudsman Office in the form of recommendations to authorities and local self-government bodies.
4141 people from 43 countries took part in the survey. In total, 10 focus group discussions were held within the framework of the study. 6-8 people were invited to participate in each discussion.
As part of the monitoring visits, representatives of the Ombudsman Office in November-December 2024 met with Ukrainians in the Republic of Poland, the Federal Republic of Germany, the Kingdom of Belgium, the Kingdom of the Netherlands, the Kingdom of Spain and the Slovak Republic. The meetings were attended by 157 people, including 36 men and 121 women.
The analytical report became an occasion for a public dialogue between authorities, local governments, international and public organisations, people abroad and those who returned to Ukraine.
Head of the Council of Europe Office in Ukraine Maciej Janczak noted that the involvement of returnees in planning and management processes of return is a standard and good practice which should be followed. He added that analytical report presented during the event was an excellent illustration of taking into account the opinions and views of Ukrainians abroad. He emphasised the readiness of the Office to continue supporting the authorities and local self-government bodies in the implementation of initiatives to protect the human rights of returnees.
The Ukrainian Parliament Commissioner for Human Rights Dmytro Lubinets commented: "This report is an important tool in shaping a policy that will take into account the real needs of our citizens (...). The protection of the rights of Ukrainian citizens is a priority for both the Ukrainian state and international partners. That is why it is important to develop comprehensive mechanisms to support Ukrainians abroad and create favorable conditions for those who want to return. Such measures include housing programs, economic incentives, employment promotion, educational initiatives, and psychological support."
The first panel discussion "Protection of the rights of Ukrainians abroad: main problems and ways to solve them" was attended by Deputy Minister of National Unity of Ukraine Oleksiy Lukashuk. According to the Ministry, the Unity Centers in Europe will help simplify and facilitate the process of returning from abroad those Ukrainians who have already made this decision for themselves. "Ukrainians must be united, regardless of where they are: in Ukraine or abroad. This idea is pursued by the strategy that the Ministry is working on," added Oleksiy Lukashuk.
Deputy Minister for Communities and Territories Development of Ukraine Oleksiy Ryabikin joined the second panel discussion "Conditions to be created for the return of Ukrainian citizens from abroad". "2.8 million citizens of Ukraine were forced to leave the temporarily occupied territories. We cannot say exactly how many of them are in Ukraine and how many are abroad. But when forming a housing policy for internally displaced persons, we take into account all these people," Oleksiy Ryabikin said. Separately, he dwelled on the issue of coordinating the actions of communities, including the issue of return.
More details about the report and recommendations are in the document "FORCED DISPLACEMENT ABROAD".
