Throughout the last years, the No Hate Speech and Co-operation Unit has been cooperating with various national stakeholders in Ukraine within the thematic area of combating discrimination, hate crime and hate speech, and protecting rights of national minorities. Since 2019, two projects have been implemented: a voluntary contribution project on “Strengthening the protection of national minorities, including Roma, and minority languages in Ukraine” (in 2 phases) and a component of the EU-CoE funded regional project “Strengthening the access to justice for victims of discrimination, hate crime and hate speech in Eastern Partnership countries”. 

The support to partners continued also during the last months, replacing in person modalities with online, reinforming sub-granting schemes for CSOs, finding alternative ways to ensure cooperation, yet coping with circumstances.

From 6 to 8 December 2022 meetings were hold with national stakeholders to summarize results of the implemented projects and discuss possible activities and ways of cooperation under the new thematic projects within the new CoE Action Plan for Ukraine “Resilience, Recovery and Reconstruction” (2023-2026).

The meetings were conducted with 20 representatives, from the Ombudsman office, Parliament Caucus on National Minorities, Office of Prosecutor General, National Police of Ukraine, National School of Judges of Ukraine, Prosecutors Training Centre, Legal Aid Coordination Center, State Service of Ukraine for Ethno-Politics, Freedom of Conscience and National Minorities Broadcasting Coordination Centre of Suspilne.

Representatives of the national stakeholders, participating in the meetings highly appreciated the cooperation with CoE’s  projects coordinated by the No Hate Speech and Co-operation Unit, mentioned a number of achievements in the previous periods and expressed their willingness and readiness for further cooperation.