PRIORITY AREAS OF HOUSING FOR CITIZENS IN CONDITIONS OF WAR AND POST-WAR TRANSFORMATION

Abstract

The issue of providing citizens with minimal guarantees and ensuring the observance of socio-economic human rights becomes particularly relevant in the context of war and post-war transformation. Rights such as freedom of movement, pension and social security, employment, education, an adequate standard of living, housing, equality, and protection against discrimination, among many others, have become critically vulnerable. The war has only intensified the burden and responsibility of the state in implementing effective measures necessary to achieve the goal of protecting these rights. The focus is placed on the housing sector in Ukraine, which has been in a crisis for an extended period. It is argued that the implementation of legal and practical measures by the state, necessary for the effective protection of the right to housing, has only partially occurred due to the armed conflict that unfolded in 2014 in Eastern Ukraine, leading to mass internal displacement of Ukrainian citizens within the country. The article establishes that full-scale military actions have further exacerbated the housing issues faced by citizens. In challenging circumstances, the impact of war should not only be on the basic needs of individual citizens but also on the effective functioning of the entire state mechanism. War should not lead to a reduction in the level of protection of rights recognized by the European Social Charter, both within Ukraine and beyond its borders. Monitoring the restoration of destroyed or damaged housing at the community level, assessing the housing needs of citizens, and addressing other challenges require immediate attention at the state level. The article asserts that the focus of the state should be on creating new doctrinal approaches to housing provision based on international human rights standards and taking into account the best scientifically grounded practices and experiences of European countries. It emphasizes that the current housing needs have diversified, with temporary crisis accommodation during the period of housing recovery or the search for rented housing becoming increasingly relevant.