A coordination meeting was held in Kyiv to support those affected by the war. Fifty representatives of thirty-two organizations and churches participated. The event was organized by the Ukrainian Humanitarian Institute, Tauride Christian Institute, Overseas Council – United World Mission, MH-Care, Institute of Trauma Healing of the Ukrainian Bible Society, Eastern European Institute of Theology, KEYs Connections, ScholarLeaders Int. The main subject of the meeting was the issue of support and rehabilitation.
The participants discussed the issues of psychosocial support and rehabilitation of people who have suffered various injuries or disabilities as a result of the war in Ukraine. Currently, the problem of providing proper psychosocial support and rehabilitation to Ukrainian citizens affected by Russia’s full-scale armed invasion of Ukraine is very acute and urgent. Military personnel, veterans, civilians, internally displaced persons, people with disabilities, and children need help.
Since the problems are large-scale, it is necessary to involve and work together with government agencies and institutions, public and religious organizations, scientific institutions, educational institutions, medical and rehabilitation centers, and volunteer associations.
UGI was represented by Acting Rector Liudmyla Shtanko and Associate Professor of the TEF Department Anton Yalovyk. They shared their experience in psychological and physical rehabilitation. They also invited the organizations present at the meeting to cooperate.
The meeting resulted in the Resolution “Psychosocial Support and Rehabilitation of War Victims”. The text of the Resolution is provided below.
RESOLUTION OF THE COORDINATION MEETING
“PSYCHOSOCIAL SUPPORT AND REHABILITATION OF WAR VICTIMS”
JANUARY 25, 2024, M. KIEV
The meeting was held on January 25, 2024, in Kyiv with 44 representatives of 32 organizations and churches. The purpose of the meeting was to discuss the issues of psychosocial support and rehabilitation of people who have suffered various injuries or disabilities as a result of the war in Ukraine.
The participants noted the exceptional acuteness and scale of the problem of providing proper psychosocial support and rehabilitation to Ukrainian citizens affected by Russia’s full-scale armed invasion of Ukraine. We are talking about different segments of the population – military personnel, veterans, civilians, internally displaced persons, people with disabilities, children and other vulnerable groups.
Due to the multidimensional nature of this problem, none of the actors in Ukraine can solve it alone. Therefore, the participants of the meeting see an urgent need to consolidate the efforts of all stakeholders – government agencies and institutions, public and religious organizations, scientific institutions, educational institutions, medical and rehabilitation centers, volunteer associations, etc. The purpose of such consolidation should be to establish systematic interaction for:
– Providing effective assistance to as many victims as possible in all regions of Ukraine, taking into account local specifics and individual needs;
– establishing communication and exchange of relevant information and best practices between different services, organizations and specialists to implement best practices through the organization of meetings, events, joint publications, webinars, etc;
– joint development and implementation of cross-sectoral assistance programs and comprehensive measures at various levels (including the state), involving the resources of all participants;
– coordinating efforts to attract domestic and international donors and partners to expand funding for support to the victims and, to the extent possible, avoid duplication of assistance;
– training and professional development of specialists in new promising specializations, taking into account new challenges in this area;
– joint representation and lobbying of the interests of affected citizens at the national and state levels through advocacy campaigns, participation in the development and examination of draft laws, strategic documents, etc.
Noting the extreme urgency and timeliness of addressing the issues of psychosocial support and rehabilitation of war victims, the participants of the meeting agreed:
- To unite the efforts of civil society organizations, academic institutions and government agencies to develop an optimal model of cooperation to effectively provide assistance to victims in all regions of Ukraine, taking into account local specifics.
- Establish a coordination center for planning and coordinating joint activities, sharing information, experience and best practices between organizations and professionals.
- To promote the unification of scientists and practitioners from various fields involved in the field of psychosocial support and rehabilitation to jointly develop comprehensive assistance programs at the national and local levels.
- Coordinate efforts to engage domestic and international partners and donors to expand funding for support to victims.
- Conduct information campaigns and share experience at scientific and practical conferences to draw public attention to the issue of psychosocial rehabilitation of war victims.
The participants of the coordination meeting on psychosocial support and rehabilitation of war victims decided
- Bring this Resolution to the attention of executive authorities, public and religious organizations, scientific and educational institutions to coordinate further joint actions in this area.
- To plan and hold an annual scientific and practical conference to assess the results of the Resolution’s implementation, exchange experience between experts and identify further tasks and areas of cooperation.
Co-organizers of the meeting: Tauride Christian Institute, Overseas Council – United World Mission, MH-Care, Ukrainian Humanitarian Institute, Institute of Trauma Healing of the Ukrainian Bible Society, Eastern European Institute of Theology, KEYs Connections, ScholarLeaders Int.
Signatures: Adopted by the participants of the coordination meeting on January 25, 2024.
