Lviv Hosts 4th National Forum of IDP Councils to Review Updated Legislation on Displaced Persons' Rights

4th National Forum of Internally Displaced Persons' Councils

According to Рубрика — Суспільство: On October 21–22, 2026, Lviv will welcome the 4th National Forum of Internally Displaced Persons (IDP) Councils. This gathering brings together representatives from IDP councils, government bodies, local authorities, civil society groups, experts, and international collaborators to discuss the evolving role of IDP councils in shaping policies affecting displaced populations and their host communities.

The event is organized by the Stabilization Support Services Charity Foundation in cooperation with Ukraine’s Ministry of Social Policy, Family and Unity, as well as the Ministry for Communities, Territories, and Internally Displaced Persons. The Forum receives support from the UN Refugee Agency in Ukraine (UNHCR) and the Norwegian Refugee Council (NRC).

Legislative Reforms and Strategic Policy Directions

On October 22, 2026, Ukraine’s revised Law "On Guaranteeing the Rights and Freedoms of Internally Displaced Persons" will officially come into effect. Key changes in the legislation include:

• Replacing the traditional IDP certificate with an extract from an electronic registry;
• Tailoring state support based on assessments of actual needs;
• Standardizing pension assignments and payments for IDPs;
• Expanding IDPs’ access to local democratic participation mechanisms.

In 2026, the government also approved a State Policy Strategy on Internal Displacement extending through 2030. This strategy names the IDP councils as vital instruments for collaboration between authorities and displaced communities, ensuring systematic consultation on decisions impacting IDPs. Currently, Ukraine has registered 882 IDP councils nationwide.

Since its inception in 2023, the National Forum of IDP Councils has become an annual platform for dialogue. The 2026 Forum agenda features panel discussions, interactive workshops on budget advocacy, media visibility, enhancing impact, and housing policy. The event will also honor council members with the national award "For the Sake of the Future."

Participants unable to attend in Lviv will connect through live video links with IDP councils from Eastern, Southern, Central, and Western Ukraine. The Forum will showcase outcomes from four interregional IDP council meetings held earlier in 2026. The full program, including sessions on government policy and council involvement in decision-making, is available via a Google document link.

The Forum’s live broadcast will be streamed on the Stabilization Support Services' Facebook page on October 21, 2026, from 11:00 to 18:00 local time, with the opening at 10:30. Media accreditation is mandatory and must be completed by 14:00 on October 20 via an online form. For accreditation inquiries, contact Antonina Ria at +38 093 889 88 79 or [email protected].

Notable speakers include:

• Vitalii Bezgyn, Minister for Communities, Territories, and Internally Displaced Persons of Ukraine (online);
• A representative from the Ministry of Social Policy, Family and Unity (to be confirmed);
• Olena Shuliak, Member of the Ukrainian Parliament;
• Matthias Schmale, UN System Coordinator and Humanitarian Coordinator (to be confirmed);
• Bernadette Castell-Gollingsworth, UNHCR Representative in Ukraine (to be confirmed);
• Goran Zuber, NRC Ukraine Representative and Operations Director;
• Paulo Gaviria Betancur, UN Special Rapporteur on the Human Rights of Internally Displaced Persons (online);
• Valeria Vershynina, Executive Director of Stabilization Support Services;
• Olga Ivanova, Director of Development and Advocacy Programs at Stabilization Support Services.

An exhibition highlighting organizations, initiatives, and projects related to IDP support, community development, and social cohesion will take place on the Forum’s first day.

The IDP Councils Forum has established itself as a crucial venue for dialogue between displaced persons and authorities, influencing the development of effective state policies. The legislative updates and new participatory mechanisms emphasize the government’s commitment to safeguarding the rights of internally displaced citizens. Insights gained from the Forum are poised to shape the future framework of Ukraine’s displacement policy.

As discussions on the evolving role of IDP councils unfold in Lviv, it's essential to recognize similar initiatives aimed at supporting internally displaced persons across the country. For instance, the recent Interregional Social Change Forum in Kharkiv highlights collaborative efforts to enhance community services and provide necessary support for IDPs, showcasing the importance of these dialogues in shaping effective policies.