Regional Coordinator in Ternopil oblast Volodymyr Shevchenko visited residential homes for children in Ivano-Frankivsk region, while Regional Coordinator in Chernihiv oblast Alla Lepekha checked detention conditions in Chernihiv guardhouse. These visits revealed a number of systemic problems caused by the legislative gaps as well as neglect of staff to their duty and indifference to people.

Volodymyr Shevchenko found about 9 million hryvnas on accounts of the residents of Ivano-Frankivsk children's homes, which were not spent because of fear of inspections. Zaluchansk residential children's home provides no access to health care, because there are no doctors working on a regular basis, also issues of licensing the practice of medicine and circulation of psychotropic drugs remain unresolved in this facility.

"Tons of humanitarian aid are stored in empty rooms and not available to children in Snyatynsk residential children's home," indignantly noted Volodymyr Shevchenko. "However, all these cluttered with sacks of clothes rooms could be arranged for children that would improve their living conditions as now dwelling rooms are overcrowded."

All these problems of the regional residential children's homes, systemic and individual ones, were reflected in the Ombudsperson's address to the Ministry of Social Policy and Ivano-Frankivsk Regional State Administration for elimination and correction.

At the same time, Chernihiv Regional Coordinator noted some positive changes during her monitoring visit. "On the recommendations of the Secretariat of the Parliament Commissioner for Human Rights provided for the last two years in result of the visits to the detention facilities of Ukrainian Ministry of Defence, management of the agency arranged reconstruction of cameras in Chernihiv guardhouse. In particular, sanitary units are being equipped, supply of hot and cold water is being ensured, and powerful halogen ceiling lights were installed," Alla Lepekha said.

The Ombudsperson's regional coordinators, supported by the UNDP Project "Strengthening Capacities of the Ombudspersons Office," will continue to monitor the human rights situation in the regions.