Problems of legal regulation of local self-government bodies activities in the field of social policy implementation for internally displaced persons

Social issues and the search for solutions are an inevitable aspect of modern society and the state. Social policy is a part of the internal policy of the state and represents a system of measures aimed at ensuring the well-being of the population, protecting socially vulnerable groups, regulating the labor market, access to education and healthcare, improving housing conditions, and addressing other important social aspects. As a result of decentralization reform and the growing importance of local self-government bodies, social policy has become one of the key areas of their work. The full-scale invasion of Ukraine by the russian federation in 2022 led to an unprecedented increase in the number of internally displaced persons (IDPs). Having been forced to leave their homes, these individuals require special attention from local self-government bodies in the territories to which they have relocated. The primary needs of IDPs include access to housing, social assistance, education, medical services, employment, and more. In the context of power decentralization, a significant part of the authority in this area belongs to local self-government bodies. The legal regulation of social policy regarding IDPs in Ukraine is based on a combination of the norms of the Constitution and laws of Ukraine, as well as international obligations undertaken by the state. However, the effectiveness of implementing these norms in practice largely depends on the clarity of the regulatory framework, sufficient financial support, and the proper organization of the activities of responsible bodies, including local self-government. Given the scale of existing challenges, it is relevant to develop a comprehensive approach that would include amendments to legislation for the clear definition of local self-government bodies’ powers in the field of social protection of IDPs, improvement of interaction mechanisms between state authorities, local self-government bodies, and civil society organizations, as well as the creation of an effective support system for IDPs through social programs and housing initiatives.