Needs of veterans and their families studied in Ukraine
11 January 13:28
The results of a survey of female and male veterans showed distrust of government agencies, problems with access to information and the need for legal services. This was announced by the Ukrainian Parliament Commissioner for Human Rights Dmytro Lubinets, Komersant ukrainskyi reports.
According to the Ukrainian ombudsman, the United Nations Development Program in Ukraine and the Government of the Netherlands joined the development and implementation of the first unified study of the legal needs of veterans and their families in Ukraine.
What was found in the survey
– The main legal needs after discharge from military service are access to information on rights, guarantees and benefits, pensions and other social benefits, as well as assistance in obtaining statuses (combatant, person with disabilities).
– 44% of respondents faced difficulties in obtaining combatant status due to the lengthy process of issuing certificates and unclear procedures.
– A significant barrier to accessing legal services for veterans is a lack of trust in the institutions that provide them. This is especially true for female veterans: 84% of women express such distrust compared to 46.5% of male veterans.
– Wounded veterans need legal aid much more than veterans who are not wounded.
– 47% of surveyed family members of veterans needed legal aid after a relative’s discharge from military service (disappearance or capture). Another popular request is to appeal decisions of military units or government agencies.
– After the loss of a relative, 69% of respondents, family members of deceased servicemen, stated the need for financial support.
– The next most frequently mentioned need, especially among female respondents, is psychosocial and informational support.
According to Dmytro Lubinets, the study provides recommendations for the Cabinet of Ministers, international and national non-governmental organizations, and the structures of the free legal aid system. These include simplifying the procedure for obtaining benefits, the status of a combatant, raising awareness of veterans about their rights and simplifying access to services.
Dmytro Lubinets, the Ukrainian Parliament Commissioner for Human Rights, emphasized that, knowing about such problems, back in March 2023, his team advocated for the provision of accessible services for veterans and relatives of fallen defenders in the “one-stop shop” format at regional administrative service centers. The Ministry of Veterans is currently implementing this format. The Ombudsman also initiated changes to legislation, in particular, the Government approved the procedure for granting combatant status during martial law in an automatic mode.
