Establishing an IDP Council is only the first step and does not automatically solve the challenges faced by IDPs. Real change begins when the voices of IDPs genuinely shape the planning of programmes designed to support people affected by internal displacement. This shift—from representation to meaningful influence—is at the heart of a new expert commentary recently published on the UNHCR website.
The expert commentary, The Best Solutions to Internal Displacement Are Designed with IDPs, is the result of collaboration between leading international and Ukrainian experts.
The commentary was co-authored by:
Paula Gaviria Betancur, UN Special Rapporteur on the human rights of internally displaced persons;
Jennifer Welsh, Director, Max Bell School of Public Policy, McGill University, member of the IDP Protection Expert Group;
Valeriia Vershynina, Executive Director of the Charity Foundation “Stabilization Support Services”, member of the Global IDP Advisory Group.
The authors present the participation of IDPs as a practical tool for better policymaking. The experience of people who face barriers to housing, employment, education, healthcare and social services helps governments and local authorities better identify needs, design programmes, allocate resources and assess the impact of policy decisions.
Ukraine’s experience serves as one of the key examples highlighted in the commentary. It describes the development of the country’s network of IDP Councils—consultative bodies that enable people with lived experience of displacement to participate in decision-making at both the local and national levels. The authors also note that expanding the political rights of IDPs, including voting rights, could become an important step towards their full integration into host communities.
While establishing an IDP Council creates an official mechanism for participation, its effectiveness depends on the conditions under which it operates. The authors stress the importance of access to information, involvement in programme and budget planning, proper consideration of recommendations, and meaningful feedback from public authorities. Under these conditions, IDP Councils can influence decision-making, maintain continuous dialogue with authorities, and contribute to policies that respond to the needs of IDPs and host communities.
The experience presented in the commentary draws, among other sources, on the long-term work of the CF “Stabilization Support Services” in developing IDP Councils and strengthening the participation of IDPs in decision-making processes. The publication also reflects the conclusions of the international workshop on internal displacement in Ukraine, organised by the CF “SSS” together with its partners at the University of Warsaw in February 2026.
“We wanted Ukraine’s experience to become part of the global conversation on internal displacement. Today, Ukraine continues to respond to unprecedented challenges while also developing practices that may be useful for other countries. It is important that the voices of people who have experienced displacement are heard at the international level,” said Valeriia Vershynina, co-author of the commentary, Executive Director of the Charity Foundation “Stabilization Support Services”.
The full commentary is available at the link.
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.