How to provide effective legal assistance for Ukrainian refugees and Internally Displaced Peoples (IDPs)? Some of the key insights were discussed during an online event on 1 March by Raoul Wallenberg Institute (RWI), together with the Association of Legal clinics of Ukraine (ALCU), and the Polish Legal Clinics Foundation (PLCF). The event also featured other organisations and individuals assisting Ukrainian refugees in Poland and Sweden as well as IDPs in Ukraine.
The event focused on three studies mapping the needs and challenges faced by Ukrainian refugees and IDPs in Ukraine, Sweden, and Poland, as well as the methods used by legal assistance providers when meeting the needs of the target group. Key challenges included difficulties related to documentation, employment, housing, financial allowances, and the psychological impact on those who have recently experienced war and loss, among other daily challenges Ukrainian IDPs and refugees face.
“Identifying these challenges through the mapping exercise in three partner countries will guide continued implementation of the projects aiming at enhanced capacities of legal aid providers when meeting the needs of Ukrainian IDPs and refugees”, – said Tatsiana Rahozina, Department Associate at RWI.
The discussion also covered the mapping of organisations providing legal and other assistance to Ukrainian refugees and IDPs, identifying issues such as communication gaps and organisational challenges, as well as state interventions in the three countries, which were deemed appropriate but somewhat delayed.
During the event, presenters and participants underscored the critical importance of collaboration between non-governmental organisations (NGOs), foundations, other stakeholders, and the states. PLCF experts shared valuable recommendations for addressing these challenges more effectively, including implementing legal reforms to enhance stability and predictability, establishing a database of organisations involved in aiding Ukrainian IDPs and refugees, and offering language courses to help refugees integrate more smoothly into their new environments. Colleagues from the ALCU talked about the problems faced by the internally displaced Ukrainians, like trouble with registering, restoration of lost documents, compensation, and housing. They recommended a better coordination among legal providers to prevent doing the same work twice and emphasised the importance to raise awareness among the IDPs of their legal rights. The RWI shared the results of the study conducted in Sweden about the main challenges Ukrainian refugees face in Sweden, such as not being able to get a personal number and getting small allowances. The RWI suggested possible changes that could help to improve the situation, such as information meetings, or a geographically wider outreach.
Overall, the event highlighted the significance of collaboration and the sharing of insights from the three studies, underscoring the power of cooperation between the countries assisting Ukraine and Ukraine itself. In the framework of the project, the organisations from Ukraine and Sweden providing legal assistance to Ukrainian IDPs and refugees will have a study visit to Poland as a next step meeting with their Polish colleagues which should contribute to experience exchange and therefore enhanced capacities of these organisations to meet legal needs of Ukrainian IDPs and refugees.
The mapping is part of “Strengthening the Rights of Ukrainian IDPs and Refugees through Public Legal Education” and “Standing with Ukraine by Providing Enhanced Rights Protection for IDPs and Refugees” projects financed by the Nordic Council of Ministers (NCM) and the Swedish Institute (SI) respectively.
Featured image: by Anastasiia Krutota on Unsplash