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Description
In the context of the humanitarian crisis caused by the war in Ukraine, Romania became home to over 80.000 displaced Ukrainians.
Many of them are in vulnerable situations, and this vulnerability is likely to deepen with the passage of time, exposing refugees to
economic precarity, possible abuses, limited access to rights and tensions with the host community.
At the same time, despite the efforts of numerous humanitarian actors, refugees'' access to clear and accessible sources of legal
information remains limited, which further exposes them. The "CDMiR 4 Ukraine: Raising awareness of human rights and equal
treatment for Ukrainian refugees in Romania" project aims to address this issue by providing services and information materials for
Ukrainian refugees, especially in terms of access to socio- economic rights. Given that access to the labor market is an essential
element of the process of integration and empowerment of refugees, through the project training services regarding work and
entrepreneurship in Romania will be offered in a complementary manner.
In parallel, the project will raise awareness among public authorities, civil society and other relevant actors regarding the rights of
Ukrainian refugees, encourage local and national cooperation, including through the conclusion of relevant partnerships, and
contribute to the mapping of services existing. Last but not least, following consultation with refugee communities, we will initiate a
series of data-driven advocacy efforts to improve the legal and policy framework for refugee integration.
Summary of project results
Many Ukrainians displaced to Romania are in vulnerable situations, and this vulnerability is likely to deepen with the passing of time, exposing refugees to economic precarity, possible abuses, limited access to rights and tensions with the host community. At the same time, despite the efforts of numerous humanitarian actors, refugees'' access to clear and accessible sources of legal information remains limited, which further exposes them to high risks. The "CDMiR 4 Ukraine: Raising awareness of human rights and equal treatment for Ukrainian refugees in Romania" project aims to address these issues by providing services and information materials for Ukrainian refugees, especially in terms of access to socio- economic rights.
The awareness campaign was carried out mainly among UA refugees, but also Romanian publlic, and it addressed the respect for human dignity, gender equality and gender-based violence in relation to access and participation in the labor market in Romania. This was done online and through info sessions, the monthly newsletters and the guidelines on Labor Market (5500 brochures and >25000 downloads, guide promo reels.).The advocacy activity of the project targeted the implementation of GEO 100/2022 (National plan of measures regarding the protection and inclusion of persons displaced from Ukraine, beneficiaries of temporary protection in Ro) and was carried out through meetings with decision-makers, the submission of recommendations/points of view as well as publishing articles and sectoral analyses. Overall, 2 reports, 4 articles/analyzes were drafted, tackling specific fields- education, health, economic inclusion. Also, the team either initiated or contributed to 12 initiatives aiming to improve regulations, some also addressing gender equality.
The community information and consultation sessions, held in different cities, directly involved 228 UA refugees. The activities meant to improve the services provided to UA refugees, those who are employed or who wish to work on the Romanian Labor Market, consisted of 3 working sessions with employers, institutions, NGOs, UA refugees, held in Bucharest, Brasov and Constanta; 2 capacity building sessions for NGOs (in Bucharest and Constanta), 9 entrepreneurship training sessions for 199 refugees; direct support for accessing socio-economic rights, including the Labor Market guide, and improved services for 2241 UA refugees.
The project improved services for 2241 refugees, out of which 427 refugees participated in project activities and other 1814 received information and counselling. 10 partnerships were concluded with NGOs, coalitions, unions, a guideline and 2 videos on finding a job and opening a business were released and disseminated.
Articles and analyzes were published on the implementation of special measures for the protection and/ or integration of Ukrainian refugees.