On June 14, the International Forum "The Way of Dignity: Struggle for Human Rights" was held in Uzhhorod with the participation of the Ukrainian Parliament Commissioner for Human Rights Dmytro Lubinets, representatives of state and local authorities, sectoral NGOs, and diplomats. The event was also attended by Nataliya Kabatsiy, Director of the Charitable Organization "Charity Fund "Medical Aid Committee in Zakarpattya", and Yevheniia Melesh, a lawyer of the Committee.

The Forum presented the Annual Report of the Ukrainian Parliament Commissioner for Human Rights "On the State of Observance and Protection of Human and Civil Rights and Freedoms in Ukraine in 2023" in the regional context. Among other things, the participants also discussed the state of observance of children’s rights in Zakarpattia, implementation of the National Preventive Mechanism and human rights in places of detention, observance of the rights of Defenders, the state of equal rights and freedoms, observance of information rights, rights of internally displaced persons, etc.

Thus, Natalia Kabatsiy, Director of the CO "CF "CAMZ", participated in a panel discussion on the state of observance of the rights of internally displaced persons in the region and meaningfully presented her vision of short-term and long-term solutions to respond to the requests and needs of IDPs. It was about comprehensive support for this group of citizens.

«We have been systematically working with displaced persons since 2014. Medical Aid Committee in Zakarpattya has been dealing with potential requests of IDPs during the full-scale russian invasion since the end of February 2022. At that time, our team was addressing the issues of basic food, hygiene products, living conditions for overnight stays, etc. Over time, it became clear that people needed a roof over their heads, while people in a relatively safe region could solve the issue of food on their own. This is how the organization got its first shelter in Uzhhorod, purchased with the support of the German organization Terre des hommes, then a shelter in Tyachiv, with the support of partners from the Association "Parasolka" (Switzerland), the Network Switzerland-Transcarpathia / Ukraine (NeSTU) and Fondation de France, and then a shelter in Nyzhnye Selyshche in Khust district, purchased and equipped with the support of Medico International and Fondation de France. And these processes are ongoing, as the Committee has purchased houses for IDP families, which are being furnished and maintained by the NGO "Association Transcarpatienne pour le Développement Local" (Transcarpathian Association of Local Development). I would like to add that we not only create opportunities to have a roof over their heads, but also provide comprehensive accompaniment to our residents in terms of legal and psychosocial support. It is important for us that people who were forced to leave their homes have the opportunity and conditions to mobilize their own resources to move on», said Nataliya Kabatsiy.

Realizing the additional burden on the region, in particular on medical and social institutions in Zakarpattia, which are also operating in war conditions, CAMZ has been consistently working to attract assistance from international organizations and foreign government agencies to increase the capacity of hospitals to provide professional care to the population, strengthen energy independence and energy efficiency of socially important institutions.

We would like to emphasize that according to the results of the monitoring of IDP accommodation facilities in Zakarpattia Oblast by the Ukrainian Parliament Commissioner for Human Rights, our "PryhystOK" for mothers with children in Uzhhorod was recognized as an example of proper conditions for providing shelter.