This decision paves the way for humanitarian vehicles and creates new opportunities for rapid response and assistance to war victims.
The Ukrainian Center for Independent Political Research team actively worked on the document. Our experts, Yuliia Panura and Maksym Latsyba, contributed to its drafting and advocacy. The work on the bill was carried out in cooperation with the Ministry of Social Policy of Ukraine, civil society organizations, customs, and law enforcement agencies.
What does the bill change?
- civil society and charitable organizations will have the right to import humanitarian vehicles for statutory and humanitarian activities;
- verified public and charitable organizations can use humanitarian vehicles only for humanitarian response and assistance to war victims;
- the use of such vehicles for commercial purposes is prohibited.
Significant work is needed to implement the adopted changes, and the UCIPR team is already planning further actions in this direction. In particular, it is necessary to:
- Adopt a resolution of the Cabinet of Ministers of Ukraine on the procedure for maintaining a register of verified humanitarian organizations.
- Develop step-by-step instructions and guidelines for CSOs on the procedure for importing, accounting for, and reporting on humanitarian vehicles.
- Organize seminars and training sessions for public associations and charitable organizations on the specifics of the verification procedure for importing humanitarian vehicles;
- Conduct a broad information campaign to draw attention to further reforms in humanitarian aid.
This draft law is the result of numerous consultations and working discussions with experts from the Ukrainian Center for Independent Political Research, the Ministry of Social Policy of Ukraine, civil society organizations, customs, and law enforcement agencies. It is an important step in improving legislation and a signal that reform work must continue. The need for support from civil society organizations and advocacy for such changes remains extremely relevant.
Read also: The Law on Lobbying has come into force in Ukraine: what does it mean?