The Global Protection Forum took place at the end of 2025. It was organised by the Global Protection Cluster in cooperation with a wide network of partner organisations. During the event, the experience of IDP Councils in Ukraine was presented.
Valeriia Vershynina, Executive Director of the Charity Foundation Stabilization Support Services, spoke at the Forum. She presented IDP Councils in Ukraine as a new mechanism for the participation of internally displaced people.
Currently, approximately 1,000 IDP Councils operate in Ukraine, with over 700 of them being active. Members of the councils help influence decision-making processes in the communities where internally displaced people now live. The councils also support people who, due to displacement, have lost contact with local self-government bodies in their home communities.
Valeriia shared practical examples of decisions made thanks to the involvement of IDP Councils. These included solutions related to evacuation, employment, and access to services. Such decisions benefit both internally displaced people and host community residents. The Forum emphasised the importance of dialogue between IDP Councils and local authorities, particularly at a time when people are relocating and adapting to new communities. It was also noted that IDP Councils have become an effective mechanism for participation and accountability of affected people.
A detailed report from the Global Protection Forum 2025 can be downloaded here (the document is available in English).
The report shows that the Ukrainian experience of IDP Councils has been recognised at the global level. This strengthens the legitimacy of IDP Councils in dialogue with authorities and donors. It also explains global trends: IDP Councils can see which approaches to the participation of affected people work in different countries and compare them with Ukrainian practice.
The document also confirms the importance of the participation of internally displaced people. This means that IDP Councils are not just a Ukrainian initiative but part of global humanitarian policy. It shows that the challenges faced by displaced people are similar in different countries. This helps reduce the sense of isolation and demonstrates that the work of IDP Councils is part of a larger system.
About the Global Protection Forum 2025
The Forum served as a platform for dialogue, learning, and joint work on key humanitarian protection issues. Each of the six online sessions was attended by around 250 participants from 113 countries. The most active participants came from Switzerland, Ukraine, Ethiopia, Burkina Faso, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Sudan, Somalia, Syria, Afghanistan, Colombia, Nigeria, and the Occupied Palestinian Territory.
The event brought together a wide range of voices and perspectives, which is essential for discussing the future of the humanitarian protection system. The Forum helped analyse current risk trends in humanitarian protection and identify key threats facing communities, allowing special attention to be given to the most complex issues.
This material was prepared based on the report “Global Protection Forum 2025: Official Report and Recordings, November 2025”.
This publication was made with the support of UNHCR, the UN Refugee Agency in Ukraine. The content of the publication is the sole responsibility of the Charitable Organization “Charity Foundation “Stabilization Support Services” and does not reflect the views of UNHCR.