On December 12, the "Tvoya Opora" Shelter in Lviv brought together parents with internally displaced person (IDP) status, social service representatives, and members of the community for the event "Advocating for the Best Interests of Displaced Children During Wartime." Nearly 70 participants gathered to discuss issues such as the level of safety for children, their right to education, access to medical care, and social adaptation.

On February 22, 2022, the situation became critical. Explosions were happening throughout the city, dangerously close. "We often had to hide with the children in the basement — sometimes at night, sometimes all day, sometimes for an entire week. It was terrifying; we feared for our children's lives," says Ms. Tetiana, who, together with her family, is now living and recovering at the "Tvoya Opora" Shelter in Lviv.

In October 2023, the Levchuk family — Tetiana, Yevhen, and their seven children aged between 10 months and 15 years — arrived in Lviv from the frontline town of Kurakhove in the Donetsk region.
In September, a residential neighborhood in their town, including their own apartment, was bombed. Forced to leave their hometown, they moved west. At the "Tvoya Opora" Shelter in Lviv, besides receiving housing and basic necessities, Tetiana’s children gained access to interactive and educational activities, and English and Ukrainian language classes.
Tetiana and her husband also became participants in the event "Advocating for the Best Interests of Displaced Children During Wartime," organized at the Shelter on December 12. They noted that there is still a lack of educational initiatives like this one in Ukraine.

Shelters are often the first to witness the condition of displaced people upon arrival — how they cope or struggle.
The most vulnerable group is always the children. During wartime, every child, without exception, has suffered violations of their legal rights, even if they have not experienced physical harm or exploitation.
"That’s why, with the support of the European Union and the International Renaissance Foundation, we organized this event," says Liubov Vozniak, Director of the "Tvoya Opora" Shelter.

The first part of the event was held with IDP parents and Roman Stankevych, Head of the Legal Department of the International Solidarity Organization Triangle, who explained the status of a child affected by war and shared key legislation related to child rights and best interests advocacy.
As a result, participants proposed to meet again for a deeper discussion. Announcements of future events will be published on the "Tvoya Opora" Foundation's website.

In the second part of the event, local authorities, child services, law enforcement, and NGOs discussed complex cases faced by "Tvoya Opora" Shelter staff and developed a framework for further action.
Among the guest speakers were Volodymyr Frydrak, Acting Head and Deputy Head of the Child Services Department of the Lviv City Council's Humanitarian Policy Department; Olga Malyk, Acting Director of the Dzherelo Center; representatives from Caritas-Brody; Volodymyr Holovatyi, Director of the Social Support Center; Olena Holyshcheva, Head of the Communications and Psychological Support Department; a juvenile police officer and an anti-human trafficking specialist; Oksana Rubai, Regional Coordinator of the "Every Child" Partnership; social workers and psychologists from the Maltese Relief Service; and lawyers from organizations such as Stabilization Support Services, the Right to Protection Foundation, and the Rescue Assistance Center.

During the event, participants discussed ways to enhance child safety, preserve the right to education, ensure medical care, and support social adaptation.
They also identified steps to protect children and families from risks such as:

• Parental neglect;

• Educational neglect;

• Disability exploitation for personal gain;

• Child trafficking.

Currently, Ukraine’s social services and guardianship authorities are under heavy strain. Ongoing collaboration between all involved parties is crucial for addressing existing problems and preventing future risks.

If you witness a violation of a child’s rights, you must:

1. Call the police immediately;

2. Inform the Child Services Department.

In cases involving displaced children living in shelters, it is recommended to conduct an urgent crisis intervention, draft a Situation Assessment Report, and aim to keep the child in a safe living environment. Rapid response to life-threatening situations can protect a child's health and offer hope for a better future.

About the Initiative:
The event "Advocating for the Best Interests of Displaced Children During Wartime" was organized by the "Tvoya Opora" Shelter with the support of the European Union and the International Renaissance Foundation under the joint initiative "European Renaissance of Ukraine."

The "Tvoya Opora" Shelter is a project of the "Tvoya Opora" Charitable Foundation, launched in March 2022 to provide comprehensive support to IDPs in Lviv. Since the beginning of the full-scale invasion, the Shelter has welcomed more than 4,600 people, including 1,360 children.