It aims to promote dialogue between veterans and communities, as well as the practical implementation of veteran policies at the community level.
The event was attended by representatives of central and local authorities, communities, and NGOs.
In particular, the event was attended by Vice Prime Minister for Reintegration of the Temporarily Occupied Territories Iryna Vereshchuk, Acting Minister for Veterans Affairs Oleksandr Porkhun, and Chairman of the Subcommittee on Social Protection of Veterans’ Rights Anatolii Ostapenko.
Natalia Zabolotna, First Deputy Head of the Military Intelligence Agency, also joined the All-Ukrainian Dialogue.
Addressing the audience, Iryna Vereshchuk emphasized the role of communities in the implementation of veterans’ policy. She emphasized the cooperation between the Government, communities, veterans’ organizations and international donors.
She also noted the significant contribution to the support of veterans’ work by the International Renaissance Foundation, the international organization IREX, the International Organization for Migration and the United States Agency for International Development (USAID).
“Today we are here to get the results that our veterans and their families need so much. They deserve a better life and they are worthy of it,” emphasized Iryna Vereshchuk.
The Deputy Prime Minister for Reintegration of the Temporarily Occupied Territories also noted the leadership of Vinnytsia Oblast in shaping veterans’ policy.
“You set the tone. You are a leader in projects and programs in this area. This is worthy of an example,” said Iryna Vereshchuk.
First Deputy Head of the Regional Military Administration Natalia Zabolotna conveyed greetings from the Head of the Regional Military Administration Serhiy Borzov and assured the audience that the Vinnytsia Regional Military Administration will do everything in 2014 and in the future to remain at the forefront of the veteran policy innovations that are currently being implemented in the region.
“Communities are the closest to people. No matter what innovations are introduced at the state level, there will be no result until they are implemented in the community. In addition, veterans’ policy is dynamic, and the needs and problems change every year, if not more often. While in 2022 we worked with military family members, including wives and mothers who were left alone without support, in 2023 we worked with rehabilitation and support for veterans’ mental health,” Natalia Zabolotna said.
The First Deputy Head of the DMA also emphasized that visits to communities by multidisciplinary regional teams are an effective format of work that allows us to understand people better and act quickly.
“We have professional people who coordinate this process,” she added.
During the event, participants shared practical cases and pilot project practices related to building community capacity to support veterans and women veterans, as well as their families. They discussed the officially approved tools for reintegrating veterans this year. They also reviewed the nationwide map of rehabilitation in the country.
They also talked about end-to-end case management, which is present at different stages: mobilization (contract) – service – treatment (if necessary) – demobilization – return to the community. Particular attention was paid to the issue of preparing communities for the return of defenders from the front.
In addition, Iryna Vereshchuk presented the Ministry of Reintegration of the Temporarily Occupied Territories of Ukraine’s Certificates of Appreciation to Iryna Voitenko, Head of the Department for Veterans’ Relations, and Maria Dovzhyk, Head of the Vinnytsia Analytical and Educational Center “Veteran’s Space”.
“I am proud and grateful for the work for the benefit of Vinnytsia region. I am grateful for this event, which gives us an understanding of how society should adjust and meet every veteran with dignity,” summarized Natalia Zabolotna.
It should be noted that the Third All-Ukrainian Dialogue “Communities to Veterans” was organized by the NGO “Space of Opportunities” in partnership with IREX in Ukraine by the International Renaissance Foundation.
