In an interview given to UNIAN the Head of the Board of the Ukrainian Helsinki Human Rights Union Yevhen Zakharov speaks of the dividing line between politicians and human rights defenders, the work of the Ombudsperson and the relation between material wellbeing and freedom of speech.

According to the research centre “Socioinform”*, one in five Lviv residents would have voted at the local council elections for a civic organization.

The UNIAN press agency’s new project should provide exciting possibilities for broadening awareness of the work of human rights organizations and generally of human rights issues

Yevhen Zakharov sees one of the main achievements of the Civic Assembly in its having drawn civic organizations together and enabled them to feel part of an ever more potent civic community

At the All-Ukrainian Civic Assembly over 350 civic organizations are planning to call for changes to the Constitution which would prevent politicians misusing the Main Law of the country. Other resolutions will reflect the urgent need for those in power to understand that laws are to be observed, not manipulated or ignored

“Dialogue between civic organizations and state executive authorities has been virtually stifled, and the media do not devote attention to this issue. We need on principle to ask sternly: “You promised, so what has been done?” I’m afraid that many leaders of the elected authorities would have no answer. However the question must be put”.

The project’s aim in the coming year is to help youth organizations develop networking capacity and cooperation with other sectors in society, including the local authorities

With lack of knowledge of even one foreign language often hindering fruitful cooperation with other organizations, the organizers hope that through this project, local civic organizations which are the main contributors to the development of civic society in Ukraine will find new prospects and horizons opening before them.

Ukrainian civic society is increasingly understanding that the initiative for change must come from them, this time in combating corruption and bribe-taking

The Mayor hopes that the Council, which has been formed at the initiative of different civic organizations, can focus deputies’ attention on burning issues rather than on political battles

There is no more immediate task in Ukraine than that on which we are working – the creation of a powerful machine for independent civic assessment of the work of the authorities, for appealing against decisions which run counter to the law, human rights and public interest, for the lobbying of these interests.

“With this whole initiative we are only standing up for the chance to choose to watch films in good quality Ukrainian translation”.

While the Lviv authorities have begun organizing public hearings themselves (joining them seen as being less dangerous than figting them!), they seem less interested in taking heed of what the public is telling them

This excellent initiative has already raised its original target and looks set to prove not only that Ukrainians want the choice to watch films in Ukrainian, but also (and not for the first time!) that they know better than politicians how to join forces and affirm their rights

More than 600 people have already supported the initiative which was launched the day before yesterday in response to the effective refusal by film distributors to translate films being shown in Ukrainian cinemas

A project has been launched aimed at increasing the influence of local territorial communities in Ukraine on decision making by state authorities and local administrations focusing particularly on public hearings

The first, but seemingly not last, such agreement aimed at improving the level of openness and accountability of the local authorities and public participation in decision making

A new Internet resource - the Lviv Civic Portal -will promote public participation in decision making and in monitoring the activities of the local authorities

Promising initiatives for consolidating public participation and control in the Chernihiv region

The new Resolution passed by the Cabinet of Ministers enables representatives of civic organizations and others at their own initiative to be included on the boards of local state administrations