On September 25, Anzhelika Bielova’s advocacy visit to New York continued with a meeting at the Human Rights Institute, Columbia Law School, where an important discussion was held on “Human Rights in Ukraine: War, Displacement and Inclusive Recovery.”

Anzhelika Bielova spoke with students about the needs of people affected by the war, including Roma communities, internally displaced people, and residents of frontline regions. She also shared the work of Voice of Romni — from humanitarian response to economic empowerment, legal protection, education, and support for survivors of gender-based violence.


The discussion also focused on the localization of humanitarian assistance and why local organizations working directly with communities should be full and meaningful participants in recovery processes. Access to rights and assistance should not only be guaranteed in principle — people must have a real opportunity to access and exercise those rights.

The meeting also addressed transitional justice and the importance of safeguarding the rights of national minorities and communities in the context of Ukraine’s EU accession process.

For Voice of Romni, meetings like this create an opportunity to speak directly to international audiences about issues that often remain overlooked by larger systems, while bringing forward the experiences of communities navigating the daily consequences of war, discrimination, and unequal access to opportunities.

We thank the Human Rights Institute, Columbia Law School for providing space for this important conversation, and Oxfam for supporting Anzhelika Bielova’s participation in the meeting.