In Chernihiv, activists learned how to solve legal problems of internally displaced persons

From November 14 to 16, 2014, the training “Information and Legal Workshop for Civil Society Activists and Lawyers” was held in Chernihiv, organized by the All-Ukrainian Coalition for Legal Aid within the framework of the project “Protection of Civil and Civic Rights of Internally Displaced Persons and Vulnerable Groups” with financial support from the National Endowment for Democracy (NED).

The event was held at the

Educational House of Human Rights – Chernihiv

with the assistance of

the Ukrainian Helsinki Union for Human Rights (UHHRU)

) and

the All-Ukrainian Educational Program “Understanding Human Rights”

.

The participants had the opportunity to take a basic course on human rights, learn to understand and plan actions aimed at protecting fundamental freedoms and human rights.

The main part of the training was devoted to the current situation with internally displaced persons (IDPs). The emphasis was on the analysis of the legislation on IDPs and the practical aspects of their residence today in the peaceful territory of Ukraine. It was also important to analyze and discuss the psychological characteristics of people in an IDP situation and the moral and ethical side of working with this topic. One of the participants of the training, who has been dealing with IDP problems for a long time,

Dmytro Uglach

noted:

“It was very interesting to attend such a training course. Lawyer of the Crimean Legal Aid Network and the Vostok-SOS Initiative

Olena Lunyova

very accessiblely showed with examples how one can fight for the rights of displaced persons. The discussion on providing psychological assistance and avoiding conflict situations with IDPs was led by an expert who herself works in such conditions, Tetyana Nazarenko. After completing the training, I plan to use the knowledge gained in the future in working with IDPs, because, I think, this topic will be relevant for a long time to come.

By taking part in the training, the participants were able to increase and expand their knowledge of human rights, their full application and protection, conducting educational, monitoring, human rights campaigns, and implementing other forms of civic activism.

“The training brought together human rights defenders and activists from different regions of Ukraine who work or want to help internally displaced persons from occupied territories and combat zones. We expect that in the future the participants will be able to more effectively protect the rights of displaced persons and help them solve their legal problems. Against the background of constantly changing legislation, our activists, primarily young people, are in dire need of improving their practical skills and knowledge, professional and training support.

We are also very glad that this training has become the first full-fledged event held on the basis of the Educational House of Human Rights – Chernihiv, the official opening of which will take place soon. I hope that it will continue to hold legal educational and training events together with the ODHRCH”, – comments on the training

Viktor Tarasov

, training coordinator from the All-Ukrainian Coalition for Legal Aid.

The training took place in the form of lectures and practical classes, discussions, brainstorming sessions, during which the issues of the public sector’s capabilities today to ensure effective human rights protection actions were discussed. A variety of topics were raised:

– Information and personal security;

– organization of civil and human rights actions;

– media activities and information, medical, legal and administrative support for active civil society initiatives in the East and South of Ukraine and in Crimea;

– monitoring of the upcoming parliamentary elections;

– issues of NGO or media registration / re-registration in a new place of residence, etc.