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INTRODUCTION
This report is based on the results of a survey conducted by the Charitable Foundation «The Right to Protection» (R2P) at the five Ukrainian entry-exit checkpoints (EECPs) to enter the nongovernment-controlled area (NGCA) administered on a regular basis since June 2017. The survey is a part of monitoring of violation of rights of the conflict-affected population within the framework of the project «Advocacy, Protection and Legal Assistance to the Internally Displaced Population of Ukraine» implemented by R2P with the support of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR). The purpose of the survey is to explore reasons and concerns of those travelling between the NGCA and the government-controlled area (GCA), as well as conditions and risks associated with crossing the line of contact through EECPs. The information collected in the survey helps identify needs, gaps and trends, and provides an evidentiary basis for advocacy efforts.
The report is based on the data collected during August-September 2017. This period is characterized by the end of the vacation season and beginning of the academic year. Having analysed the results of the previous period , the approach to conducting the survey was adjusted in order to obtain more accurate data.
Tens of thousands of people cross the five operating EECPs every day. During the reporting period, the total number of daily crossings ranged from 28,000 to 50,000.
Since the creation of official corridors for crossing the line of contact, their operation has raised a great number of complaints. The imbalance in the number of such corridors and EECP staff compared with the number of people wishing to cross the line of contact is obvious. This leads to numerous negative phenomena and significantly limits civilian freedom of movement.
Information about long lines, unsatisfactory equipment at the EECPs, corruption and other incidents appear regularly in the media and on social networks, inducing human rights advocates to conduct thorough monitoring of observance of the rights of the people crossing the line of contact through the EECPs. By observing the crossing processes and studying opinions of persons crossing the line of contact, R2P contributes to monitoring and improving the protection environment and increasing respect for civilians’ rights in the crossing process.