A two-day forum on Humanitarian Architecture and Civil Protection Development in Ukraine was held in Kyiv, which was another step towards strengthening the country’s emergency preparedness. The event was organised by the Ukrainian Red Cross in partnership with the State Emergency Service of Ukraine. The forum was attended by representatives of the Parliament, central authorities, academic institutions, international partners and civil society.
The main topic of the event was strengthening cooperation between all participants in the civil protection system – government agencies, humanitarian organisations, volunteers and local communities. This approach is aimed at building an effective, sustainable and transparent emergency response system focused on the needs of the population.
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According to Maksym Dotsenko, Director General of the Ukrainian Red Cross, the organisation has undergone significant transformations since the beginning of the full-scale invasion and is now an official part of the Unified State System of Civil Protection. Together with the State Emergency Service and the All-Ukrainian Association of Amalgamated Territorial Communities, initiatives are already being implemented in 14 regions of the country.
Volodymyr Demchuk, Deputy Head of the State Emergency Service of Ukraine, stressed the importance of synergy between the state and civil society. According to him, only cooperation, not competition, allows for an effective response to the challenges faced by the country in times of war.
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The forum outlined priority areas for further development of the civil protection system. These include deepening trust between all stakeholders, recognising the role of volunteer initiatives as a full-fledged part of the national response system, as well as adapting to European standards and developing security infrastructure at the local level.
Particular attention was paid to the formation of a unified response architecture based on openness, transparency and mutual responsibility.
The Forum confirmed that effective civil protection is impossible without partnership between the state, communities and NGOs. In this direction, the Ukrainian Red Cross and the SES continue to work together to create a safe environment for each community.
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