ZMINA gathered human rights defenders and authorities to discuss human rights and European integration of Ukraine
On 24 January 2025, Kyiv hosted a networking event “European Integration and Human Rights: Year in Review and Plans for the Future”. The event gathered leading human rights defenders, experts and government officials to discuss the vision of European integration priorities and the role of human rights defenders in this process.
Alena Lunova, Liudmyla SuhakDeputy Minister of Justice for European Integration Liudmyla Suhak shared the key successes of 2024 and plans for 2025, emphasising the role of cooperation with the human rights community.
“Civil society sometimes has a deeper expertise in some human rights issues, and we really appreciate it when the public shares their knowledge with the state authorities. We will continue to support the approach of close cooperation and knowledge sharing,” said Suhak.
Tetiana Pechonchyk, Head of the Human Rights Centre ZMINA, stressed the importance of joint actions in the field of European integration and human rights.
Networking helped to strengthen professional ties and create new initiatives for cooperation.
As a reminder, on 29 October 2024, a coalition of civil society organisations, including the Agency for Legislative Initiatives, Transparency International Ukraine, ZMINA, Tomorrow’s Lawyer and the Ukrainian Bar Association, presented in Kyiv the Shadow Report to Chapter 23 “Justice and Fundamental Rights” of the European Commission’s Report on Ukraine in 2023. This is the first report submitted by the Ukrainian civil society to the European Commission after Ukraine’s accession to the European Union. Experts assessed the period from June 2023 to August 2024 and provided 350 recommendations. ZMINA prepared the section “Protection of Fundamental Rights and Freedoms”.
The event was organised by the Human Rights Centre ZMINA with the support of the European Union and the International Renaissance Foundation within the framework of the joint initiative “European Renaissance of Ukraine”.
