Yevhen Zakharov officially registered as candidate for the post of Human Rights Ombudsperson
The Verkhovna Radas profile committee voted today, 20 December, to recognize Yevhen Zakharovs candidacy as meeting the legal requirements for the post of Authorized Representative of the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine on Human Rights.
7 out of the 10 members of the committee voted to recognize Zakharov as candidate, and three abstained. The meeting was attended by Nina Karpachova [the outgoing Ombudsperson, and recently put forward for the post again]..
This means that exactly one month after the beginning of a civic lobbying campaign, Yevhen Zakharov has become official candidate. It is unprecedented not only in Ukraine, but in the world generally, that a representative of civic society should have been put forward by members of the public themselves for the post of Human Rights Ombudsperson.
The first hurdles have been successfully overcome, but the hardest – gaining a majority of votes in the Verkhovna Rada - lies ahead. Those saying to themselves that this is “impossible” might like to remember that even the possibility of having Yevhen Zakharov registered as a candidate one month ago seemed equally remote.
Press Conference:
21 December, at 13.00 in the INTERFAX Ukraine Agency, Reitarska St, 8/5A, Kyiv
Yevhen Zakharov will present his view of “The Institution of Human Rights Ombudsperson: Issues and Prospects”. The conference will also be addressed by representatives of civic society who will explain how the idea was born to lobby for a non-party and political unengaged candidate for the position of Human Rights Ombudsperson, and why they believe that the issue of who is appointed to this post to one of the most vital at present on the agenda of the Verkhovna Rada.
You are cordially invited!