A brainstorming session brought together representatives of 19 leading human rights organisations, the Ombudsperson's Office, and UNDP to develop a concept for a national study on human rights.

The aim of the study consists in measuring human rights awareness, identifying systemic human rights deficiencies and misperceptions, and outlining a gap between opinions on human rights of ordinary citizens and human rights activists.

 

 

In her welcoming remarks, Yuliya Shcherbinina, UNDP Governance Analyst, underlined that despite all of positive evolutionary trends in Ukraine, comprehensive baseline information on human rights awareness, perceptions, and channels of the most effective information delivery to the population at large was missing.

"This does not allow the design of well-considered strategic interventions to increase human rights awareness and protection in the country," she said.

 

This statement was supported by Mykhailo Chaplyha, Representative of the Ombudsperson for Public Relations and Information Technology. "Results of the baseline national study on human rights should contribute to the development of the Ombudsperson's strategy and action plan as well as human rights education in Ukraine," he said.

"This study will investigate how the public perceives human rights. The findings should help human rights activists, the Ombudsperson, national stakeholders, and international organizations build up a strong human rights evidence base to design human rights programs, develop educational and awareness campaigns, and, ultimately, shape human rights policy," emphasized Tetiana Pechonchyk, Head of the Human Rights Information Center.

Human rights expert Volodymyr Yavorskyi presented a desk research on the best studies of public perceptions on human rights, including international and Ukrainian research. The experts discussed theories, ideas, and approaches to the upcoming study.

The brainstorming session resulted in the development of the main goals, objectives, and expected results of the national study on human rights. In the framework of the study, both a sample survey covering all territory of Ukraine and focus group interviews with judges, police officers, journalists, human rights activists, and educators will be conducted during the next three months.

The initiative is supported by the Strengthening Capacities of the Ombudsperson's Office Project, implemented by UNDP with financial support of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Denmark.