The President of Ukraine has signed the new version of the Law of Ukraine №4924-IX “On Ensuring the Rights and Freedoms of Internally Displaced Persons” (Draft Law No. 12301), introducing a modern approach to state policy on internal displacement.
The law provides for a transition from a model focused primarily on the registration of IDPs towards a comprehensive system of support throughout all stages of internal displacement. Key innovations include needs assessment as a basis for providing support, development of digital services, establishment of an electronic IDP account, strengthened housing guarantees and improved institutional mechanisms for state policy in this area.
The provisions of the law take into account expert recommendations and analytical work developed with the support of the Council of Europe*. Their preparation was the result of long-term and joint efforts by Ukrainian state authorities, Members of Parliament, experts and international partners. The Council of Europe expresses its appreciation to all those who contributed to the preparation and advancement of this reform, including Ms Iryna Vereshchuk, former Vice Prime Minister of Ukraine – Minister for Reintegration of the Temporarily Occupied Territories of Ukraine, for initiating this legislative process; the Temporary Special Commission of the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine on the Protection of the Rights of Internally Displaced Persons and Other Persons, and its former Chair Mr Pavlo Frolov, as well as all national partners and experts who contributed to the development of these legislative changes.
The Council of Europe welcomes this important step and remains committed to supporting Ukrainian partners in developing legislative and policy solutions aimed at strengthening human rights protection and ensuring effective access to state support for war-affected people.
* The work on expert recommendations and analytical materials taken into account in the preparation of legislative amendments was launched in 2023 within the framework of the Council of Europe Project “Strengthening judicial and non-judicial remedies for the human rights protection of war-affected people in Ukraine”. Since 2025, the Council of Europe has continued to support Ukraine in ensuring effective access of internally displaced persons to human rights, essential services and relevant support mechanisms within the framework of the Council of Europe Project “Facilitating access to human rights and essential services for internally displaced persons and returnees at the community level”.
