Attachments
Introduction
NGO "Foundation.101" has been implementing the initiative "Frontline Inspection" since September 2015. The aim of the initiative is to monitor the observance of human rights at the entry-exit control points on the line of contact, check the sanitary condition of control points and study public opinion on the work of inspectors and problems faced by citizens when crossing the line of contact.
The project is implemented in close cooperation with the Office of the Ukrainian Parliament Commissioner for Human Rights and the Donetsk regional military-civilian administration.
Within the "Frontline Inspection" initiative, Foundation.101 conducted a survey of people at the five entry-exit control points in Donetsk and Luhansk regions. This publication presents the results of the analysis of the survey, observations made on monitoring visits, as well as an analysis of legislative changes that took place in October and November 2016. At the end of the report, there are recommendations that will have a positive impact on the situation at the entry-exit control points in the Donetsk and Luhansk regions.
The report was prepared thanks to the kind support of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees.
The contents of this publication are the sole responsibility of NGO "Foundation.101" and do not reflect the views of any of the mentioned partners.
Methodology
The analytical report is based on a survey of persons crossing the line of contact through the five entry-exit control points in Donetsk and Luhansk regions, observations of monitors from NGO "Foundation.101" during monitoring visits to control points and analysis of the legislative framework governing the operation of the checkpoints.
The survey of persons crossing the line of contact was carried out in order to gain a better understanding of the actual state of affairs at the checkpoints and identify the main trends among those crossing the five entry-exit control points, "Marinka", "Mayorske", "Hnutove", "Novotroitske" and "Stanytsia Luhanska" in October—November, 2016. 5, 691 persons were interviewed over the course of the survey.
The methodology of data collection was the same at all entry-exit control points. The monitors used the questionnaire developed by the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) together with civil society organization "Foundation.101". The questionnaire included 29 questions with one or several answers, depending on interviewees’ response to earlier questions. All civilians interviewed for the survey were informed about its purpose, and the polling was conducted anonymously.
The survey was conducted by the monitors of NGO "Foundation.101" among persons queuing at the entry-exit control points. People travelling both to and from government-controlled areas took part in the survey.
The survey was conducted in the form of personal interviews with people in vehicles who were waiting to cross the line of contact as well as with people who were crossing the control point by public transport.
The presence of the employees of NGO "Foundation.101" at the entry-exit control point had been approved by the Ukrainian authorities prior to the execution of the survey, and members of the Ukrainian military were not present at the time of the interviews.
Monitoring visits were carried out by monitors of Foundation.101 at each of the five specified entry-exit control points twice a week. Monitors recorded the conditions under which officers of the State Border Service of Ukraine and the State Fiscal Service of Ukraine processed civilians crossing the line of contact, as well as the overall conditions and sanitation of infrastructure present at the control points.
Monitors also noted accidents that took place at the entry-exit control points.
The monitoring was carried out directly on the territory of the entry-exit control points, as well as on areas adjacent to the control points in government-controlled areas.
The last component of the research was to observe changes to legislation that regulates procedures of crossing the line of contact.