On 21 September  the Council of Europe Project “Strengthening the Human Rights Protection of Internally Displaced Persons in Ukraine” in cooperation with the State Fund for Youth Housing Assistance  organized a round table “Protection of the human rights of internally displaced persons: towards durable solutions on housing issues”.

Official opening of the activity was held by Mr Leo Partskhaladze, Deputy Minister for Regional Development, Building and Housing of Ukraine, Mr Georgyi Tuka, Deputy Minister for Temporarily Occupied Territories and Internally Displaced Persons of Ukraine, Mr Serhii Komnatnyi, Chairman of the Board of the State Specialized Financial Institution “State Fund for Youth Housing Assistance”, Mr Régis Brillat, Special Advisor to Council of Europe's Secretary General for Ukraine, Head of the European Social Charter Department, Executive Secretary of the European Committee of Social Rights and Mr Mårten Ehnberg, Head of the Council of Europe Office in Ukraine.

The high level of participants showed the importance of the topic of the activity. Representatives of diplomatic missions and international organizations in Ukraine, central executive authorities, members of the Parliament, Representative on IDPs of the Ukrainian Parliament Commissioner for Human Rights, Deputy heads of Luhansk and Donetsk regional administrations, Permanent Representative of the President of Ukraine in the Autonomous Republic of Crimea, civil society organizations attended the meeting.

At the round table participants considered the European standards of ensuring housing rights of internally displaced persons,  analyzed legislative initiatives and regional  practices which respond to housing issues for internally displaced persons.

During discussions participants emphasized on the need to develop regional housing programs for displaced persons or to make relevant amendments to already existing programs, as well as to create a register of internally displaced persons who are entitled to improvement of living conditions. Representatives of national civil society organizations stressed the importance of providing state support for the reimbursement of the cost of housing construction and the provision of preferential mortgage loans for housing.

Participants of the event welcomed the efforts of all interested parties, namely, the Cabinet of Ministries of Ukraine, in order to protect the housing rights of IDPs.

As a result of the discussion a draft resolution was proposed. The final version of the document will include the proposals made during the round table.

The Council of Europe Project “Strengthening the Human Rights Protection of Internally Displaced Persons in Ukraine” will further encourage a dialogue between state authorities, local self-government bodies, international organizations and key partners to overcome the challenges faced by Ukraine. The Project will provide a relevant technical assistance and expertise seeking for durable solutions in order to ensure the housing rights of internally displaced persons.