In Chernihiv region, problems of protection and assistance to the affected population in local communities were discussed

On September 12, 2022, during a roundtable meeting at the Koryukiv District Military-Civil Administration, the observance of human rights under martial law and assistance to the affected population in the border communities of Chernihiv Oblast were discussed.

The event was organized by the Chernihiv Public Committee for the Protection of Human Rights with the support of the US Embassy in Ukraine.

The meeting was attended by representatives of local communities of the Koryukiv District, the military administration, the district police department and the prosecutor’s office, the Human Rights Department of the National Police of Ukraine, the Regional Center for the Provision of BVPD, and the regional coordinator of the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine for Human Rights in Chernihiv Oblast.

The head of the district military administration

Ivan Vashchenko

and the chairman of the district council

Viktor Chernukha

present at the event drew attention to the importance of combining the efforts of executive authorities, local self-government, law enforcement agencies and the public in matters of assisting the population affected by military actions and occupation, and restoring the vital activity of communities.

During the meeting, the appeals of residents of the district and community representatives to local authorities and public organizations regarding the provision of legal and humanitarian assistance to vulnerable categories of the population and internally displaced persons, the need to carry out preventive measures were analyzed. Separately, the participants noted the problems that arise during the movement of the population, travel abroad and to other communities, the departure of children to study abroad, etc.

The experts also raised the issue of adopting and financing social programs in communities, providing comprehensive social services to the population, coordinating all service providers and cooperating with public and international organizations.

Larisa Borysenko

– a representative of the Human Rights Department of the National Police of Ukraine, spoke about the pilot project “Custody Records”, which was one of the first to be implemented and has been successfully operating in the Koryukivskyi RVP since January 2022. This system is designed to improve the standards of protection of the rights of detained persons by introducing a mandatory interview during delivery to the police agency, electronic recording of all actions regarding the detainee, and searching for information about detained persons who have been under police control since the moment of actual detention. In addition, the police representative noted that this system is also aimed at protecting the rights of police officers from false accusations of unlawful actions against detainees, as well as protecting detainees from unlawful actions by police officers. Custody Records will eventually be implemented in other police departments of the Chernihiv region.

The event also discussed parliamentary control over human rights compliance, which is carried out by the institution of the VRU Commissioner for Human Rights.

Alla Lepekha

, regional representative of the Ukrainian Ombudsman, noted the currently limited access of citizens to information during martial law, the lack of information about the possibilities of receiving assistance in communities, and problems with shelters.

Separately, the issues of opportunities for obtaining free legal aid in the region were raised. A specialist from the Regional Center for the Provision of Legal Aid in the Chernihiv Region

Anatoliy Leonenko

highlighted the latest changes in the procedure for providing assistance to detained persons. The free legal aid system continues to function in wartime conditions and continues to conduct legal educational work with the population.

During the meeting, the participants also discussed the issue of child protection, as many Ukrainian children now find themselves in difficult and atypical life situations for their age. Children who have become victims or witnesses of a crime need special support and assistance. In view of this, the state has identified such a category for providing legal assistance as children who have suffered as a result of military actions. Within the framework of this issue, algorithms for cooperation between the Regional Center for the Protection of Children from Violence and the Prosecutor’s Office of the Chernihiv Region have been developed to date.

The roundtable participants developed mechanisms for further cooperation to ensure respect for the rights of community residents, the possibility of referral and the provision of comprehensive assistance to them if necessary.

After the event, the experts also visited the Koryukiv District Police Department, where they had the opportunity to familiarize themselves with the work of the subsystem in person and talk to police representatives.

The activity is taking place within the framework of the project “Rebuilding Communities and Protecting War-Affected Populations in Chernihiv Oblast” with the support of the Press, Education, and Cultural Affairs Section of the US Embassy in Ukraine.