Dear distinguished civil society representatives, experts and all participants interested in human rights promotion and protection in Ukraine! Dobryi den’!

On behalf of the UNDP, I’m delighted to welcome you to the Human Rights Protection Non-Conference, the largest platform bringing together the most prominent human rights activists.

Human Rights are at the heart of the work of the United Nations. Promoting and encouraging respect for human rights and for fundamental freedoms for all, without distinction as to race, sex, language or religion is one of the key principles of the United Nations.

While we are making some progress worldwide in a number of important areas of the Sustainable Development Goals, such as: the reduction of poverty and maternal and child mortality; improving basic education; expanding access to public services, and others; at this time we are also facing complex and formidable challenges.

Recovering from the COVID-19 crisis and building resilience against future threats will require deliberate and strategic actions by all, especially civil society – working closely with the government and the private sector.

It is in times of crisis that the civic space, transparency, and the free flow of information are more critical than ever for building and maintaining the trust needed to making effective responses.

However, there is a worrying trend, which still continues – attacks on civil activists. Threats and attacks against civil society actors harm the trust between people and government, restrict the civic space, and go against the values and principles of the UN. In 2021, over 90 such attacks were reported.

Through all platforms, we call on all parties to pay attention to this urgent problem, ensure there are transparent investigations of all cases, and create a favourable and secure environment for all civil society actors.

This issue is closely linked to access to information and personal data protection, both of which have deteriorated during the COVID-19 pandemic. Today, when we need to share a lot of information online, it is natural to worry about how our personal data is processed, and whether it is adequately stored and well protected. At the same time, the COVID-19 pandemic has reminded us of the critical importance of having reliable and timely public information to promote the safety and security of the public.

To address these challenges, UNDP supported the development of two educational series of videos on the Dia.Education platform, to educate rights holders on how to protect their personal data online, and provide duty bearers with information on how to safeguard the right to access information.

The conflict in the east of Ukraine also continues to challenge the country's development. To build forward better in a more resilient and sustainable way, Ukraine requires a clear vision of how to address the emerging challenges. In 2021, UNDP supported a comprehensive social study on attitudes and perceptions of Ukrainian citizens related to overcoming the negative consequences of the armed conflict in Ukraine.

The study gives the government of Ukraine, as well as civil society and international organizations the possibility of informed decision making processes to prioritize their and activities, and lay the groundwork for lasting peace in the country. The study revealed that more than 68 percent of the Ukrainians see civil society and volunteers as the most trusted source of information about conflict-related issues in the non-government-controlled territories. This high level of trust empowers civil society, but also imposes significant responsibility on civil society actors.

In closing, I would like to wish you all productive work at this year’s Non-Conference, which I am sure will serve as a strategic platform for learning and knowledge sharing, and working together to build a better future for all Ukrainians, where no one is left behind. 

Thank you!