Moving to a new place does not mean losing your rights and ability to influence your life. By uniting, internally displaced persons (IDPs) can achieve common goals, effectively defend their interests and ensure social justice. This is the key to integration and full realization of the rights of each IDP.
IDP associations have the right to participate in solving local issues, using the tools of local democracy as full-fledged residents of the community. Experience shows that this works: in Khmelnytskyi and Lutsk communities, thanks to IDP Councils, changes were made to the charters that allow IDPs to participate in all forms of local government. In Kropyvnytskyi and Poltava, IDP Councils have succeeded in restoring health and recreation programs for children and increasing their funding to reach children who have moved from the occupied territories.
Community members, including IDPs, can join such events and associations to address local issues:
1) local referendum;
2) general meeting (conference) of residents (see card 4);
3) local initiatives (see card 4);
4) public hearings (see card 5);
5) planning and allocation of local budget funds;
6) public consultations organized by local self-government bodies;
7) participation in advisory and consultative bodies established under local self-government bodies and/or officials (see card 6);
8) public evaluation of the activities of local self-government bodies and officials (see card 7);
9) other forms of participation that do not contradict the law.
Please find below detailed information on how IDPs can influence local policy and achieve success through joint efforts.
