CONFLICTS OF INTERNALLY DISPLACED PERSONS IN UKRAINIAN COMMUNITIES: PROBLEMS OF INTEGRATION AND LEGAL MECHANISMS OF SETTLEMENT

Abstract

The article examines conflicts that arise in the process of integrating internally displaced persons into host territorial communities of Ukraine under the conditions of prolonged armed aggression and large-scale internal displacement. The relevance of the study is determined by the fact that internal displacement can no longer be viewed only as a humanitarian or social issue. It directly affects state legal policy, the powers of local self-government bodies, access to housing, employment, social and administrative services, and the level of social cohesion within communities. The purpose of the article is to clarify the nature of conflicts involving internally displaced persons, identify their main causes, and substantiate legal mechanisms for their prevention and settlement. The study applies formal legal, systemic, comparative legal, analytical and interdisciplinary methods. The article analyses Ukrainian legislation on the protection of the rights and freedoms of internally displaced persons, the Law of Ukraine “On Mediation”, scholarly works of Ukrainian researchers, statistical materials and selected international approaches to local conflict resolution. It is argued that conflicts in host communities are multifactorial in nature. They are connected with competition for resources, housing and employment problems, unequal access to social support, insufficient communication between internally displaced persons and local residents, and the psychological consequences of forced displacement. Particular attention is paid to the role of the territorial community as the primary environment for integration, where practices of coexistence, social trust and local stability are formed. The article demonstrates that effective integration of internally displaced persons requires a comprehensive combination of legal, social, psychological and communication instruments. Mediation is of particular importance in this context, including community mediation, insider mediation and court-related mediation, as it can not only resolve individual disputes but also restore communication and trust between the parties. The article concludes that mediation should be regarded as a promising element of legal policy aimed at integrating internally displaced persons into Ukrainian territorial communities.