Working Visit to the Balkans – Study of Experience of Protection of IDPs’ Rights

Upon invitation of the Council of Europe’s Project Internal Displacement in Ukraine: Building Solutions Chairman of the Board of the State Fund for Support of Youth Housing Construction Serhii Komnatnyi is on a visit to Montenegro, Bosnia and Herzegovina. The trip is aimed at study of policy and practice of social protection of internally displaced persons (IDPs), ensuring durable solutions at the national and local levels.

By inviting the representative of the State Fund for Support of Youth Housing Construction to participate in the visit the Council of Europe’s Project acknowledges the role and part of the Fund in facilitating the protection of rights and freedoms of forcibly displaced persons in Ukraine.

The delegation also includes representatives of the Secretariat of the Cabinet of Ministers of Ukraine, Ministry of Social Policy, Ministry of Temporary Occupied Territories and Internally Displaced Persons of Ukraine, other representatives of public authorities, a number of regional state administrations, Mariupol City Council, scientific institutions and non-governmental organizations taking care of problems of social and economic adaptation of internally displaced persons (IDPs).

Milica Vesovic, manager of the Council of Europe’s project, Directorate of the Human Rights and the Rule of Law (Strasbourg, France), Angela Longo, representative of the Council of Europe Programme Office in Podgorica (Montenegro) and Milan Radovic, Council of Europe’s consultant welcomed guests in Podgorica, the capital of Montenegro. The overview of problems of the internal displacement on the Balkans was made in the form of a workshop, key challenges were emphasized.

Budimirka Đukanović, Advisor to Labour Minister of Montenegro made a presentation on Regional Housing Program – joint initiative of Bosnia and Herzegovina, Croatia, Montenegro and Serbia supported by the European Union, UNHCR, OSCE and the USA. The Council of Europe Bank of Development assists its member states in implementing internal housing projects through administering of the fund of Regional housing program and providing technical assistance.

Specific results of cooperation of the Balkan States with the Council of Europe Development Bank were discussed. In particular, CEB realizes a programme of social housing construction for displaced persons from Kosovo and Serbia in Montenegro. Cooperation was launched in 2011, the total amount of granted investments for the needs of forcibly displaced persons from all donors exceeded Eur 500 mln.

“When you see that a small country with the support of international donors ensures the rights of forcibly displaced persons from neighboring state, to be frank, you feel offended for our Ukrainians who survived the horror of military actions and now the majority of them don’t have the possibility to provide themselves with their own decent housing with the support of authorities. The example of the Balkan States that fruitfully cooperate with the European structures, namely, with the Council of Europe Development Bank is a sample to follow for us!”, the leader of the State Fund for Support of Youth Housing Construction mentioned.

The Ukrainian delegation paid a visit to the biggest city for displaced persons on the Balkans where Roma from Kosovo live. Guests studied the living conditions of the city dwellers.

The Ukrainian delegation will be on a visit to Bosnia and Herzegovina on November 7-8.