Statement  on ensuring the implementation of the powers of the Ministry of Reintegration of Temporarily Occupied Territories of Ukraine  

In early September, after a reshuffle in the Government, information emerged about the intention to “integrate” the Ministry for Reintegration of Temporarily Occupied Territories of Ukraine (MinReintegration) into the Ministry for Communities, Territories, and Infrastructure of Ukraine (MinRegion). Despite the absence of an official position of the Government, public statements of government officials allow us to conclude that, in fact, this means the merger of the MinReintegration and the inclusion of the issue of the temporarily occupied territories (TOT) of Ukraine in the powers of the Ministry responsible for regional policy of Ukraine, and the redistribution among different ministries of those functions of the MinReintegration that cannot be included in the powers of the MinRegion.

Such a position may be understandable since support, development, and further restoration of the TOT of Ukraine should take place in a single logic of Ukraine’s development and restoration of all territories affected by the armed aggression against Ukraine. At the same time, there is a high risk of losing some of the powers over people affected by the armed aggression against Ukraine if the Government does not have a ministry directly responsible for developing a comprehensive policy of reintegration of the TOT and de-occupied territories of Ukraine. The redistribution of the functions of the MinReintegration may lead to the disappearance of the topic of protecting the rights of victims from the state’s agenda, as the restoration of infrastructure in the regions is only part of a more comprehensive reintegration process that includes legal, humanitarian, and socio-economic aspects. But the main thing is the support of people.

We, the representatives of organisations dealing with the protection of the rights of victims of the armed aggression against Ukraine, consider it extremely necessary when implementing the decision to redistribute the powers of the MinReintegration to take into account a range of issues related to the protection and restoration of the rights of the affected population and the development and implementation of a comprehensive state policy of reintegration of the TOT of Ukraine. The reasons and mechanism for the redistribution of the functions of the MinReintegration among other ministries, mainly the MinRegion, should be communicated and explained to the public.

Currently, the MinReintegration has a wide range of responsibilities related to overcoming the negative consequences of the war. In particular, it ensures:

• the formation and implementation of the state policy on IDPs and those who have left abroad as a result of the war;
• Ukraine’s compliance with international humanitarian law;
• coordination of humanitarian assistance to the civilian population;
• restoration and building peace;
• assistance in meeting the socio-economic, environmental, informational and cultural needs of the population living in the TOT and adjacent territories;
• the coordination of evacuation of the population from the TOT and the territories of hostilities.

In addition, the MinReintegration, on the basis of the state enterprise “Ukrainian National Centre for Peacebuilding”, operates the National Information Bureau (NIB), which, in accordance with the Geneva Conventions, collects, summarises, and transmits information about persons who died, went missing, were deported or taken prisoner during the armed conflict. But most importantly, the MinReintegration is the body that coordinates other central executive authorities in matters related to the protection of the rights of the affected population and the development of a reintegration policy of the TOT of Ukraine.

Clearly, not all of the above can and should be implemented by the MinRegion. Therefore, the main warning of the redistribution of powers of the MinReintegration is the risk that the problems of protecting and implementing the rights of those affected by the war will disappear from the state’s agenda. We are already experiencing the consequences of the loss of leadership of the MinReintegration – the Government has been considering the Draft Strategy for Restoring State Power and Reintegrating the Population of the De-occupied Territories for the period up to 2026 and the corresponding operational plan for its implementation for more than a month. However, the adoption of this important document, as well as other important strategic documents, has been put on hold.

Taking into account the general vector of the state policy on de-occupation and reintegration of the Ukrainian territories currently occupied, overcoming the consequences of the Russian Federation’s aggression, we call on the Government to ensure the functioning of the authority that will have the powers to protect the rights of the affected population and develop a comprehensive and systematic policy of reintegration of the TOT of Ukraine. This can happen, for example, through the transformation of the MinReintegration into the Ministry of Unity with basic powers over persons affected by the armed aggression against Ukraine. Alternatively, the Government may retain the post of Vice Prime Minister for the Reintegration of the Temporarily Occupied Territories of Ukraine (without a ministry) with specialised deputies in each ministry, as the interests of the affected population and reintegration are cross-cutting and should be taken into account in all areas, from education to the energy industry.

We believe that maintaining the direction of reintegration of the TOT of Ukraine, supporting and ensuring the rights of victims of armed aggression in the Government are critically important. That is why preserving the institutional capacity to respond to and overcome the negative consequences of the war and occupation, as well as to build strategies for the future, is essential for the further development of our country.

September 18, 2024