Rokada and other human rights organizations call for maintaining powers over IDP issues with the Ministry of Social Policy, Family, and Unity
“We stand united in our understanding that merging these policies within a single ministry could halt or significantly slow down support programs already launched for internally displaced Ukrainians, dismantle the established system of operations, and ultimately have a negative impact on millions of people who currently need state protection,” notes Yuriy Goncharov, head of advocacy at Rokada.
POSITION STATEMENT
on the inadmissibility of transferring IDP policy-making powers from the Ministry of Social Policy, Family, and Unity
Following the Government’s resignation on July 15, 2026, media reports emerged indicating plans to transfer the powers for shaping and coordinating state policy on internal displacement from the Ministry of Social Policy, Family, and Unity of Ukraine to the Ministry of Veterans Affairs of Ukraine.
We, the representatives of organizations dedicated to protecting individuals affected by the armed aggression against Ukraine, strongly oppose the transfer of mandates regarding internally displaced persons (IDPs) and other war-affected populations to the Ministry of Veterans Affairs.
We believe this decision ignores the previous negative experience of merging the Ministry for IDPs and Temporarily Occupied Territories of Ukraine with the Ministry of Veterans Affairs back in 2019. The primary reason for the subsequent separation of these ministries – and the appointment of a Vice Prime Minister to head the Ministry for Reintegration – was the sheer complexity of the challenges the state faces in overcoming the consequences of the armed aggression against Ukraine, as well as the critical need for cross-governmental coordination.
Consolidating state policies for the two largest population groups affected by Russian armed aggression – veterans and internally displaced persons – under a single ministry will inevitably weaken the state’s capacity to ensure proper protection for the rights of both groups. Any reorganization of central executive authorities must first and foremost be evaluated based on the criteria of continuity of support and the effectiveness of human rights protection.
We believe that policy-making for internally displaced persons and those forced to leave Ukraine due to the Russian Federation’s armed aggression must remain under the purview of the Ministry of Social Policy. It is this ministry that ensured the development and adoption of the State Policy Strategy on Internal Displacement until 2030, approved the operational action plan for its implementation in 2026–2028, launched the ‘Dodomu’ (Home) Support Platform for the Return and Reintegration of Ukrainians, and chairs the newly established Coordinating Council on Internally Displaced Persons, fostering ties with Ukrainian citizens abroad and facilitating their voluntary return to Ukraine.
We are convinced that a single authorized entity must be designated within the Cabinet of Ministers of Ukraine, responsible for shaping and implementing state policy regarding the protection and support of all individuals affected by the armed aggression against Ukraine. At the same time, functioning mechanisms, including the formulation and implementation of policies on internal displacement and unity, must currently remain within the Ministry of Social Policy, Family, and Unity of Ukraine.
In addition to Rokada, the position statement was signed by:
ZMINA Human Rights Centre
Public Holding “GROUP OF INFLUENCE”
NGO “Donbas SOS”
Charitable Foundation “Right to Protection” (R2P)
Charitable Foundation “East SOS”
Crimean Human Rights Group
NGO “Crisis Understanding”
Charitable Foundation “Stabilization Support Services”
NGO “CRIMEA SOS“
NGO “THE TENTH OF APRIL”
