The general vision and plan of action of the Joint European Union and Council of Europe Project “EU and Council of Europe working together to strengthen the Ombudsperson’s capacity to protect human rights” (the Project) were presented and discussed on 24 January 2020 in Kyiv.
The Project is working in three key directions – personal data protection; effective realization of National preventive mechanism; and improvement of legislation on the Ombudsperson’s activities. Planned activities for each component include both improvement of legislative and regulatory frameworks and raising of operational capacities of the Ombudsperson’s Office staff and responsible state agencies. Awareness raising actions are envisaged to promote the role of Ombudsperson’s office in protection of personal data and prevention of ill-treatment, as well as public knowledge of the human rights standards in these spheres.
Ms Liudmyla Denisova, Ukrainian Parliament Commissioner on Human Rights, has stressed the importance of continued cooperation between the Ombudsperson’s Office and the Council of Europe and European Union bringing a valuable expertise and support in the process of reinforcement of human rights protection in Ukraine.
The Project is based on achievements of the previous Council of Europe projects and the EU Twinning Project for the Ukrainian Ombudsperson’s Office, implemented in 2016-2019.
The Project’s plan of activities was presented and agreed upon during the First Steering Committee Meeting with the representatives of the Ukrainian Parliament, Ministry of Health and Ministry of Social Policy, representatives of international organizations and social society. Valuable contributions of all the partners highlighted the critical issues in the areas of personal data protection and prevention of ill-treatment in the places of deprivation of liberty. The Steering Committee members unanimously confirmed that synergy between all the stakeholders acting in the human rights sphere in cooperation with the Ombudsperson’s Office is an important aspect of Project’s implementation.
The Project started in November 2019 and will be implemented till July 2021. To follow the latest news from the Project please check our web-page.
