1. Streamline identification-related registration

Establishing communication about identification-related challenges throughout the region would reduce inequalities in treatment and would normalize expectations that allow for LGBTQI+ refugees to streamline their registration as refugees.

​

 

2. Create of an updated, reformed, and inclusive medical response to the ongoing crises for LGBTQI+ Ukrainians

Due to the inconsistent healthcare responses across shareholder countries, which are rooted in policies predating the ongoing crisis, an update is needed to streamline access to proper care for LGBTQI+ Ukrainians and their specific needs. This will standardise the access to healthcare needs for LGBTQI+ Ukrainians as they move into Europe, and can be later solidified not only as a provision for future refugees but also as a key policy for rebuilding the Ukrainian healthcare system. An action plan must be established by each government, implemented, and shared with partner governments to address the following.

​​​

2.1 Fund the creation of mental health centers and groups in collaboration with civil society, European governments, and Ukraine to tackle the ongoing mental health crisis

A specific gap in aid going toward Ukrainian refugees is in the mental healthcare sector, with LGBTQI+ refugees disproportionately facing a lack of accessible support. The effects of the conflict have taken a serious toll on the well-being of all Ukrainians, making this an urgent epidemic that needs to be addressed. Group forums for LGBTQI refugees can be helpful for mental health and for providing access to humanitarian services/aid. Funding must go towards establishing a support network, such as through counseling centers and therapy groups, with options for LGBTQI+ people fleeing the war. LGBTQI+ people face additional discrimination in society on top of the mental distress caused by the conflict, and this is primarily a concern for veterans. This network would make care more accessible throughout the region and would be a first step in making health-related aid more inclusive.

 

2.1.1 Ensure specialized centers are equipped to handle cases of physical violence

Due to the additional discrimination that LGBTQI+ refugees face, it is crucial that any support is capable of dealing with cases where violence is involved. This includes any physical harm caused by the war, where inclusive specialists may be needed. In addition, unsafe conditions faced by LGBTQI+ Ukrainians on their journey to flee the conflict can manifest in harm, and not only must these support networks be able to physically care for the affected refugees, but they must also provide any ongoing psychological support in light of this disproportionate aggression.

​

2.2 Liberalize access to necessary hormone therapy for trans+ refugees

An effective response would link immediate aid to a network of services that could provide culturally-competent health care for LGBTQI+ Ukrainian refugees long-term. This would make sure that immediate needs are met, and ensure stable access to necessary medical care. The limited access to hormone therapy necessary for transgender+ Ukrainians seeking to transition is in need of reform to better welcome these refugees. While the first step is to make these treatments easier to access for transgender nationals, there is more to be done than just loosening restrictions. Policies should be standardized across stakeholder countries, primarily removing the restrictive requirement of a board of review for individuals accessing this care. Another crucial step is simplifying the bureaucracy surrounding legal gender change so that personal ID can align with the person’s identity. Additionally, multilateral cooperation is necessary to ensure these treatments are accessible by strengthening the supply chain of available treatments, which can be critical to the physical health of those seeking to continue their treatment. Ukrainian refugees who have already begun their treatment must be allowed to continue accessing this specialized care in their host country. Trans- and intersex-inclusive healthcare is a primary shortcoming of the medical aid available to the refugee community, and international cooperation on striking down these barriers is crucial for further integrating them into society.

​

2.3. Continue to provide HIV/AIDS care in the long term, including protecting the rights of LGBTQI+ Ukrainians on this matter

While several medical advancements have proved effective in treating individuals with HIV, who are often disproportionately LGBTQI+, this policy must be strengthened to support the sheer number of refugees fleeing the conflict and losing access to this treatment. Not only must these refugees be ensured access to continuing their treatment, but regular testing must be made available to refugees fleeing who might have lost access to medical care. Anti-discrimination policies are another key initiative, and further funding for the Ukrainian healthcare system will ensure regional cooperation in safely treating affected individuals. Any refugee shelters or centers should also be kept sanitary to avoid outbreaks of immunocompromising diseases to ensure the safety of impacted refugees.

​

3. Establish national integration centers and programs, which will broadly be able to prolong the aid available to refugee communities

With the conflict lasting several years now, Ukrainian communities have established themselves across Europe, which requires readiness to provide long-term aid. Integration centers would serve as a means to continue to support refugees in accessing all support available, and would serve as federal institutions promoting access to specific care, including for LGBTQI+ individuals.

​

3.1 Consult with relevant shareholders, both within the civil service and extra-governmental, to identify where support is most needed

An oversight panel of various stakeholders, ranging from government officials, federal bureaucrats, and civil servants to community leaders and activist organizations, is necessary to facilitate the smooth and effective development of these centers. It would be tasked with identifying the regions most in need of concrete support, particularly identifying where the Ukrainian diaspora is most prevalent and vulnerable. The committee would also identify how national and local laws surrounding the LGBTQI+ community and anti-DEI stipulations on foreign aid might impact the ability of these welcome centers to support the unique needs of LGBTQI+ refugees. Additionally, this committee would work to identify the specific programs and types of aid available, with an emphasis on connections to long-term housing, healthcare resources, and anti-discrimination practices in the work of these institutions. This would culminate in an action plan being developed with key areas of support identified, e.g., legal assistance, career counselling, etc., for the implementation of these centers.

 

3.2 Allow NGOs and grassroots organizations to operate at the border, with government support, to establish welcome centers​

As a necessary initial step, specialized organizations working on the ground can immediately lend their expertise to identify the most pressing needs of LGBTQI+ Ukrainians. With government support, including multisectoral training, establishing welcome centers will ensure that these needs are met and that refugees can safely transition into the country. This initial setup will also allow the incoming refugees to get connected to other resources, especially if they plan to move further away. This will not only serve those coming out of Ukraine but can serve refugees fleeing from other repressive states, i.e., Hungary. These operations would initially focus on points of entry for both Germany and Poland, including transport hubs, along both the Ukrainian border and near the borders of thoroughfare states (namely Poland, Slovakia, and Hungary). It is crucial that these NGOs and grassroots organizations, not just government-run welcome resources, receive funding due to a decrease in governments providing LGBTQI+-specific resources. Financing NGOs that work to support LGBTQI+ needs on the border will ensure that these refugees will have access to the unique support they need, regardless of government priorities.

​

3.3 Implement the action plan in rolling out integration centers, with regular review from the oversight committee​

The action plan created and approved by the committee will culminate in the establishment of integration centers nationwide. It is crucial that the steps towards their establishment respect anti-discriminatory legislation, ensuring that these practices establish a safe environment for all refugees utilizing these centers. Training for staff will also focus not only on overarching issues such as access to housing, but also be equipped to provide care for the concerns of marginalized communities, e.g., inclusive healthcare. Additionally, these centers will be regularly subject to review by the oversight committee to identify emerging concerns and how to best address them. Furthermore, it will ensure these are lasting institutions that are capable of adapting to new challenges, i.e., assistance for future marginalized refugees.

​

3.4 Coordinate multi-national action plans within the region to build on the work in other communities​

With a lack of communication between different areas being a key obstacle in coordinating efficient responses, institutions would play a role in facilitating regular communication and cooperation between communities. This would allow NGOs to build on each other's responses to the needs they have experienced, and provide a network of resources not only for LGBTQI+ communities but also for the Ukrainian refugees in need. Additionally, these plans would establish regional norms on government responses that would improve experiences across host nations.

​

 

4. Prioritize funding local NGOs that provide direct assistance to LGBTQI+ refugees

​

4.1 Conduct policy reviews to determine the inclusivity of refugee assistance programs run by national and local governments.​

When assessing grant applications and directing funds toward refugee assistance organizations, conduct an audit of the inclusivity of the policies and services provided by these organizations. This includes asking refugee aid organizations if their housing programs have shelter options that are safe for LGBTQI+ people, determining if these organizations’ health resources include resources disproportionately needed by LGBTQI+ people such as hormone therapy, and whether the staff of these organizations have received LGBTQI+ sensitivity training. Understanding how refugee assistance organizations either meet or fail to meet the specific needs of LGBTQI+ refugees will allow funds to be directed to resources that are accessible to this community.

 

4.2 Find regional and community-based organizations whose mission is to protect the LGBTQI+ community and offer assistance to refugees.​

Search for and reach out to organizations that specifically provide services for LGBTQI+ people. Because LGBTQI+ refugees are a niche community, this research will be most successful if funding organizations find LGBTQI+ organizations in areas with large refugee populations as well as general community-based refugee aid organizations that may provide LGBTQI+-inclusive resources. International refugee organizations provide general services that are applicable to the experiences and needs of the average refugee and may not have resources that support the unique needs of LGBTQI+ refugees. Working with smaller, community-based organizations rather than international groups allows funds to be directed at more niche issues that impact specific communities, such as connecting transgender refugees with hormone replacement therapy or providing refugees with LGBTQI+-friendly housing.

 

4.3 Facilitate partnerships with large aid organizations (i.e., The Red Cross) and local organizations that provide specialized long-term services for the LGBTQI+ community.​

National and international organizations that provide assistance to refugees possess an abundance of resources but frequently lack an understanding of how LGBTQI+ refugees need to access these resources for their unique needs. Local NGOs whose mission is to provide specialized support for LGBTQI+ people frequently lack substantial access to resources. Creating partnerships between large national and international organizations and local NGOs allows these groups to learn from each other and share resources in a manner that ensures accessibility to vital resources. By working with national organizations, local NGOs may gain access to increased funding or extensive databases of housing or employment resources that they can connect their clients to. By working with local NGOs who specialize in LGBTQI+ issues, national and international organizations can learn how to better meet the unique needs of members of this community.

 

4.4 Ensure aid organizations have diverse funding sources to combat instability due to changing political environments.​

LGBTQI+ refugees should not rely solely on government funding for assistance. Due to the volatile nature of government priorities due to different election outcomes, relying on government funding for LGBTQI+-inclusive refugee aid programs is unfeasible in the long term. When new political parties take power, attitudes toward the LGBTQI+ community can change for the better and the worse. Organizations that provide support to LGBTQI+ refugees should limit the percentage of their funding that comes from the federal or local government. Instead of relying solely on government funding, these organizations should seek financial support from a diverse array of international refugee and LGBTQI+ organizations, independent donors, and regional groups. This will ensure that if funding from one source is no longer accessible due to possible constraints like a change in government priorities, the organization will be able to continue to provide vital services to LGBTQ+ refugees.

​

4.5 Ensure access to Local Humanitarian Services

In addition to making LGBTQI-specific humanitarian services available, existing services should be made more accessible by providing more information to LGBTQI refugee communities. Information about LGBTQI-specific humanitarian services should be distributed to all refugees to decrease protection risks that come with singling out LGBTQI refugees. In general, it is important to emphasize discretion in LGBTQI individuals accessing resources, for protection reasons. It is important to train humanitarian actors in terminology and appropriate concepts related to sexual and gender minority status. Further, it is Important to make support groups and other humanitarian services equally accessible to women in the LGBTQI+ community and not let those groups/services be male-dominated.

 

An effective response program requires the coordination of training for stakeholders in the governmental and extra-governmental sectors to understand these needs. This way, these responders will be able to identify areas of concern and handle them effectively when interacting with Ukrainian refugees, regardless of their identity.

​

Keep Reading: