Medea Benjamin, (2022)
Medea Benjamin and Nicolas Davies provide a nuanced analysis of the Russia-Ukraine conflict in their primer, “War In Ukraine.” They argue that while Russia’s invasion is indefensible, Western actions such as NATO expansion and U.S. involvement in the 2014 Ukraine coup have also contributed to the crisis. The book explores the historical context, surveys the involved parties, and examines the risks of escalation towards a potential conflict between the U.S. and Russia. With accessible language and thorough research, it offers readers the opportunity to understand the intricate complexities of the conflict beyond the simplistic narratives portrayed in mainstream media.
ISBN: 9781682196144
Serhii Plokhy, (2023)
Serhii Plokhy’s authoritative history delves into Europe’s largest military conflict since World War II: Russia’s invasion of Ukraine in 2022. Tracing the conflict’s origins to post-Soviet tensions and imperial collapse, Plokhy emphasises Ukraine’s central role in Russia’s identity and the broader geopolitical landscape. Despite warnings, Putin’s decision to invade Ukraine shocked the world, leading to Ukrainian resistance and a united Western response. Plokhy argues that amidst a new Cold War era marked by nuclear proliferation and nationalist resurgence, Ukraine stands as a volatile fault line between authoritarianism and democratic Europe.
ISBN: 9780241617359
European Platfrom Undeclared Work
The document discusses Romania’s REVISAL, a digital register of employees managed by the Labour Inspectorate, aiming to streamline administrative processes and enhance labour inspections. It highlights the system’s contribution to reducing bureaucratic burdens, improving detection of undeclared work, and providing comprehensive details about individual employment contracts. Employers are required to input various contract-related information, contributing to increased transparency in employer-employee relationships. Key success factors include the availability of a desktop application, comprehensive guidelines, and the system’s integration into payroll software.
https://www.ela.europa.eu/sites/default/files/2021-09/RO-REVISAL%20system.pdf (09.01.2024)
UN Women (2023)
This gender brief, co-led by UN Women with contributions from ILO and Care International, analyses the challenges faced by refugees from Ukraine, particularly women, in accessing employment and sustainable livelihoods in neighbouring countries. It examines issues such as professional qualifications, employment opportunities, language, care work, protection, gender-based violence, and financial assistance. The brief also highlights good practices in the response and provides recommendations for addressing livelihood challenges.
Norwegian Refugee Council, (2023)
The assessment focused on Ukrainian refugee youth in Moldova and Romania, revealing significant needs alongside hopes for a secure future. Language emerged as a key overarching need affecting various aspects of youth’s lives. Economic support, secure jobs, and stable integration were frequently cited needs. While youth appreciated the safety of host communities, anxiety about their futures persisted. “Feelings of isolation and distance from family and friends displaced by the conflict” contributed to mental strain. The youth provided practical suggestions, emphasising language support and community centres for meaningful connections. The insights aim to inform humanitarian organisations’ programming, aligning with the priorities and aspirations of refugee youth.
https://www.nrc.no/resources/reports/hope-and-uncertainty/ (09.01.2023)
FRA, Eurofund, (2023)
The document discusses the response of social services in host countries to the large influx of people displaced from Ukraine, emphasising the importance of swift access to the labour market for short-term and long-term integration. The Temporary Protection Directive (TPD) and EU Charter of Fundamental Rights highlight the right of displaced individuals to work under equal conditions. The European Commission’s guidance aims to ensure non-discrimination and address specific vulnerabilities. Integration measures, including access to public services, housing, education, health, and employment assistance, are crucial for successful labour market participation. Challenges such as housing, education, and mental health support are addressed, and recommendations for facilitating recognition of qualifications are provided.
https://fra.europa.eu/en/publication/2023/barriers-employment-displaced-ukrainians (09.01.2023)
UNHCR, (2022)
The document provides information on the situation of Ukrainian refugees in Romania as of early December 2022. Over 7.8 million refugees have fled Ukraine, with 98,000 in Romania. A Multi-Sector Needs Assessment (MSNA) was conducted to understand the demographic profile, needs, and intentions of these refugees. Key findings include the average age of the head of household being 40.5 years, 78% being women, and 75% of household members being female. Employment challenges were noted, with 51% having a different professional status in Romania, and 80% reported not working. Healthcare barriers, education challenges, and accommodation preferences were also highlighted. The document emphasises the importance of addressing refugees’ needs and ensuring their socio-economic resilience.
https://repository.impact-initiatives.org/document/reach/29ffbc17/ROU2204_REACH_Romania_2022_MSNA_Report-1.pdf (09.01.2023)
Legrain, Philippe, (2017)
The document outlines strategies to swiftly integrate refugees and asylum seekers into the workforce, with a specific emphasis on entry-level jobs. Drawing on research from 22 advanced economies receiving significant numbers of refugees, it presents 16 policy recommendations, highlighting effective practices and innovative approaches. The report underscores the importance of rapid employment for refugees, facilitating their integration into society and dispelling misconceptions of being a burden. It emphasises the need for governments, NGOs, and businesses to collaborate, addressing hurdles such as trauma, discrimination, and bureaucratic challenges refugees face in securing employment.
https://www.tent.org/wp-content/uploads/2017/08/TENT_StepUp_Final.pdf (09.01.2023)
UNHCR (2021)
This document addresses the rights, challenges, and protection risks faced by lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, intersex, and other diverse identities (LGBTIQ+) individuals in situations of forced displacement. It emphasises that while they share basic needs and rights with other displaced persons, they encounter additional risks due to their sexual orientation and gender identity. The document reaffirms UNHCR’s commitment to ensuring equal rights and full participation for all persons of concern, including those within the LGBTIQ+ community, as outlined in the “UNHCR policy on age, gender, and diversity.” The focus is on providing equal access to existing international human rights, not establishing “special rights.” To address the diverse forms of discrimination, an age, gender, and diversity approach is deemed crucial to tailor protection and assistance.
Refugee Self-Reliance Initiative
The Multistakeholder Pledge on Economic Inclusion and Social Protection is a commitment to support the self-reliance of refugees, displaced individuals, and stateless people, along with their host communities. The pledge encourages concrete actions from various stakeholders to improve economic inclusion, access to land, food security, employment, financial services, entrepreneurship, training, and social protection. It serves as a platform for collaboration, sharing best practices, and pooling resources to implement these commitments. The pledge acknowledges previous commitments and aims to build upon them, emphasising progress and support for initiatives promoting self-reliance.
https://www.refugeeselfreliance.org/eisppledge
Hello Europe
The Stepping UP Report is published by Ashoka which is the world´s largest network of social entrepreneurs. The report shares challenges and visions from different practitioners. It emphasises “how Europe can and should step up: how to engage refugees if we want to go beyond crisis relief towards re-framing refugees as changemakers.”
“The “stepping UP Report” highlights the diversity of the solutions offered by changemakers and their self-perception, the issues of mental health and access to funding. It addresses such barriers as harmful narratives and propaganda and outlines the mindset shifts that need to take place in order for refugees to be seen as a positive force and valued for their contribution.”
Ashoka United States (2022)
The document explores the collaboration between social entrepreneurs and International Non-Governmental Organisations (INGOs) to address global social and environmental challenges. It emphasises the potential of these collaborations to create innovative solutions, despite organisational barriers faced by INGOs. The report underscores the need for INGOs to redefine their roles, build internal capacities for innovation, and engage with social entrepreneurs to drive systemic change. It encourages increased collaboration, understanding, and strategic partnerships to enhance the effectiveness and impact of both INGOs and social entrepreneurs.
UNHCR (2011)
This text underscores the vulnerability of ethnic, religious, or linguistic minorities, indigenous peoples, and caste-based groups seeking international protection. It highlights their susceptibility to severe human rights violations, violence, persecution, and discrimination. The definition of minorities encompasses groups with a common identity, often non-dominant economically and politically, maintaining distinctive characteristics. Indigenous peoples, linked historically to pre-invasion societies, enjoy specific rights related to customary law, traditional knowledge, and cultural heritage. Caste-based discrimination, prevalent in South Asia, is also addressed. The guidance acknowledges the potential minority-like situation for refugees from the majority arriving in locations with discriminatory practices against similar communities. Refugees from minorities, indigenous peoples, and other discriminated groups may face prolonged effects, with diverse impacts on women, children, persons with disabilities, older persons, and LGBTI individuals, emphasising the need for an Age, Gender, and Diversity (AGD) approach in UNHCR’s protection activities.
UNHCR, (2021)
This document offers guidance to UNHCR staff and partners on safeguarding the rights of older persons in forced displacement or statelessness situations. It emphasises the need to address the distinct needs of older individuals throughout various phases, ensuring their rights to independence, participation, self-fulfilment, dignity, and care without discrimination. The systematic application of UNHCR’s Age, Gender, and Diversity Policy is crucial to ensuring equal rights and full participation for all, considering the diversity within the older persons’ demographic. Additionally, the UNHCR Policy on Older Refugees calls for the protection and assistance of older persons, promoting their equality of access to measures that enhance their participation and well-being. The definition of an older person, typically aged 60 and above according to the United Nations, acknowledges the cultural and contextual variations in defining age, recognizing that different support measures may be required for those over 80.
UNHCR, (2019)
In the context of forced displacement, individuals with disabilities encounter similar rights and challenges as others, but they also confront heightened protection risks, including violence and stigma. Barriers to accessing humanitarian aid, education, and other services, coupled with potential denial of legal rights, contribute to their exclusion. UNHCR’s AGD Policy emphasises equal rights and participation for all, explicitly addressing the needs of persons with disabilities. The commitment to protecting them from discrimination aligns with UNHCR Executive Committee Conclusion No. 110 (LXI)-2010. Recognizing the diverse discrimination they face, an age, gender, and diversity approach is crucial to ensuring inclusive protection, assistance, and solutions for persons with disabilities.
https://www.unhcr.org/fr-fr/en/media/working-persons-disabilities-forced-displacement (09.01.2023)
UNHCR (2018)
This policy reaffirms UNHCR’s commitment to prioritising individuals through an age, gender, and diversity (AGD) approach, ensuring equal rights and meaningful participation for persons of concern. Aligned with existing commitments to AGD, Accountability to Affected People (AAP), and women and girls, the policy supports UNHCR’s Strategic Directions 2017-2021, emphasising the diverse experiences of displaced individuals. It mandates compliance across all operations, recognizing the nuanced impact of forced displacement based on age, gender, and diversity. The policy acknowledges progress in AGD, gender equality, and AAP, aiming to strengthen these aspects in UNHCR’s operations.
Blin, Sarah; Billings, Niamh Cahill (2022), UKAid,
The profile, developed between April 26, 2022, and June 13, 2022, supplements the overarching briefing paper on Humanitarian Assistance and Social Protection Linkages in the Ukraine crisis. Key messages highlight Romania’s weak social protection system, which, despite expanding in response to shocks, lacks adequate safeguards for vulnerable groups against poverty. The refugee influx response involves aid agencies and government support, focusing on tweaks to the existing refugee social protection program. Collaboration needs to intensify to pinpoint bottlenecks and enhance the government’s capacity to deliver support through the state social protection system. Discussions with the government should aim to align services for Ukrainians with those for pre-war asylum seekers, agreeing on a comprehensive package of services and addressing potential changes. The profile suggests supporting longer-term reforms focusing on adequacy, coverage, labor market policies, and local-level delivery.
https://socialprotection.org/discover/publications/romania-social-protection-country-profile-ukraine-crisis-response (09.01.2024)
UNHCR (2021),Integration Policy Brief I September 2021
This policy brief addresses the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on refugees in Europe, emphasising their disproportionate vulnerabilities and the need for inclusive social protection. While acknowledging Europe’s generally favourable legal framework, the brief highlights practical barriers refugees face in accessing social safety nets. UNHCR’s systematic assessment of 45 European countries identifies exclusion issues and proposes collaborative solutions. The brief advocates for a collective effort at regional, national, and local levels to overcome these obstacles and foster inclusive policies aligned with global principles. Overall, it stresses the imperative of leaving no one behind, emphasising the resilience and contributions of refugees to host communities amid the ongoing challenges of the pandemic.
https://data.unhcr.org/en/documents/details/91049 (09.01.2024)
UN High Commissioner for Refugees UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs
“This document is a summary of the humanitarian response for Ukraine and the region that is presented in the Humanitarian Response Plan (HRP) and in the Regional Refugee Response Plan (RRP), as published on 15 February 2023. Both documents present needs and requirements until the end of 2023.” The paper presents the strategic objectives and responses across both plans. It highlights the coordination and response inside Ukraine and in refugee hosting countries. Moreover, the main achievements are delineated and ways appeals can be supported.
International Committee of the Red Cross
In this article the ICRC describes his activity in Ukraine since 2014 and lists their regional offices. It underlines the emergency assistance like health and psychosocial support, protection of civilians and international humanitarian law. In addition, the activity of the Central Tracing Agency for the humanitarian crisis in Ukraine in 2022 is presented.
https://www.icrc.org/en/humanitarian-crisis-ukraine
UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (2023)
“This document is consolidated by OCHA on behalf of the Humanitarian Country Team and partners. The Humanitarian Response Plan is a presentation of the coordinated, strategic response devised by humanitarian agencies in order to meet the acute needs of people affected by the crisis. It is based on, and responds to, evidence of needs described in the Humanitarian Needs Overview.”
https://reliefweb.int/report/ukraine/ukraine-humanitarian-response-plan-february-2023-enuk
Jain, Nityanand et. all. (2022)
“On the 24th of February 2022, the Russian Federation began an unprovoked invasion of Ukraine, marking the biggest military attack in Europe since the second world war. Herein, we summarise the humanitarian measures and medical donations that have been made by European countries as they stepped up their efforts to provide refugees with all necessary basic services. We further highlight potential oncoming challenges in Ukraine and the host countries along with relevant solutions to these challenges. The current scenario highlights the need for multi-party and multi-level collaborations (both public and private) to tackle the emerging situation.”
https://doi.org/10.1177/21501319221095358
Data Friendly Space (2022)
The report covers the difficult aspects concerning the conflict, displacement, humanitarian access and current conditions, especially livelihoods, food security, health, protection, shelter, wash and education in Ukraine. The paper presents issues regarding food costs, unemployment, property and the damage caused by Russian troops.
https://reliefweb.int/report/ukraine/ukrainian-crisis-situational-analysis-19-dec-2022
Orhan, Ebru (2022)
“The Russia’s invasion of Ukraine has created a catastrophic humanitarian crisis and threatened the stability of geopolitical relations. The war has added to mounting concerns about a sharp slowdown in global growth, a rise in inflation and debt and a surge in poverty. The economic impact of conflict has rippled through various global channels, including commodity and financial markets, trade and migration links and confidence. The aim of this research is to reveal the effects of the Russia-Ukraine war on the global economy. While examining the economic impacts of the war in the research, the reports of organizations such as OECD, World Trade Organization, World Bank, UN, IMF, UNCTAD were used. According to the reports, it is possible to say that the conflict between Russia and Ukraine will affect the global economy via three main channels: financial sanctions, increase of commodity prices and supply chain disruptions.”
https://openknowledge.worldbank.org/handle/10986/3737
Saez, Patrick (2022)
This paper highlights the humanitarian crisis in Ukraine that triggered extraordinary levels of solidarity. The challenges of neutrality principles, the political responses of neighbour countries and the territories where humanitarian organisations operate are analysed. Moreover, it describes how humanitarian actors can navigate the dilemas like public narratives, donorship, architecture, operating models and technology.
https://cdn.odi.org/media/documents/Navigating_Ukrainian_dilemmas_in_the_Ukraine_crisis.pdf
