met in Oulx by the officers of Diaconia Valdese. They reported that they had been pushed-back by the French police at the Italian-French border. Six of them had in their possession Ukrainian temporary residence permit for students, apart from the person from India who had a permanent residence permit. Despite the rights violations faced, none of them decided to stay in Italy to apply for international protection. Rather, all of them opted to try and irregularly cross the border on the mountains to reach other EU countries where they had parents/friends…” “The use of pushbacks, at the EU’s external and internal borders, is this systematic and widespread that it also affects third country nationals who are searching for protection in the EU after having fled the war in Ukraine. This practice, which clearly violates the EU acquis, is observed not when crossing from Ukraine to a neighbouring country, but when moving onwards or residing in a neighbouring country (in the example elaborated upon on Hungary).” OSCE – Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe, Report on violations of International Humanitarian and Human Rights Law, War Crimes and Crimes against Humanity committed in Ukraine since 24 February 2022 [ODIHR.GAL/26/22/Rev.1], 12 April 2022 “In Ukraine, the legal status of IDPs is regulated by the Law On Ensuring the Rights and Freedoms of Internally Displaced Persons, adopted on 20 October 2014.629 By virtue of its Article 4(1), “the fact of internal displacement shall be proved by the certificate of registration of internally displaced person”. The registration is regulated by the Resolution of the Cabinet of Ministers No. 509 on registration of internally displaced persons.630 This Regulation has recently been amended to expand the list of persons entitled to register as IDPs to those leaving their homes following the Russian attack and the declaration of the martial law on 24 February 2022.631 The personal scope of the Law and the Regulation is no longer limited to citizens of Ukraine but encompasses stateless persons and foreigners permanently residing in the territory of Ukraine. The legislation prohibits discrimination in the exercise of rights and freedoms based on internal displacement. It confirms that IDPs have the same rights and freedoms as the rest of the population. It gives IDPs the right to free temporary residence, access to healthcare and a monthly targeted assistance (2-3,000 hrivnas). It also introduces benefits for those helping IDPs, typically entrepreneurs employing them.” US DOS, Annual report on human rights in 2021, 2021 Country Report on Human Rights Practices: Ukraine, 12 April 2022 "Romani activists expressed concern that some Roma could not afford to flee conflict areas, while others had no choice but to leave their homes. […] The crowd shouted anti-Roma slurs and threatened violence against the Romani community as collective punishment for the attack. The crowd also shot fireworks at a Romani family’s house, broke the entrance gate, and spray-painted “get out” on the fence around the house. Local police characterized the incident as a protest of civic activists. […] According to Council of Europe experts, 60 percent of Roma were unemployed, 40 percent had no documents, and only 1 percent had a university degree. According to the Romani women’s foundation, Chirikli, local authorities erected a number of barriers to prevent issuing national identification documents to Roma. […] Authorities hampered access to education for persons who lacked documents and segregated Romani children into special schools or lower-quality classrooms. Officials also expressed anti-Roma sentiments and encouraged discrimination. […] Many Roma fled settlements in areas controlled by Russia-led forces and moved elsewhere in the country. According to Chirikli, approximately 10,000 Roma were among the most vulnerable members of the country’s IDP population. Many Romani IDPs lacked documents, and obtaining IDP assistance, medical care, and education was especially difficult […]" OHCHR, International Roma Day 8 April 2022, UN expert urges better protection of Roma minority during conflicts, 7 April 2022 75