The project builds on the results of the earlier project “Strengthening the protection of national minorities, including Roma, and minority languages in Ukraine”, notably to bring forward the reforms in the field of national minorities including Roma in the country, in line with Council of Europe standards in this area. It also takes into account current circumstances: the aggression of Russia against Ukraine since February 2022, and Ukraine’s application for membership of the European Union, and the upcoming accession negotiations in the field of fundamental rights. 

• Enhance the legal and policy framework to protect minority rights in Ukraine and help to strengthen capacities of relevant institutions at the central and local level, in line with the standards and recommendations set by the Council of Europe – especially those from the Framework Convention for the Protection of National Minorities (FCNM) and the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages (ECRML).
• Contributing in strengthening the cooperation between central and local level institutions, as well as among institutions and the civil society and other partners working on national minorities.

• The first component will ensure that relevant institutions and other stakeholders effectively implement legal and policy reforms on protecting and promoting the rights of national minorities, including Roma, in accordance with the provisions of the FCNM and ECRML.  
• The second component will foster co-operation among local authorities and national minorities, including Roma, for a stronger societal cohesion and resilience in time of conflict and post-conflict. Specific attention will be given to internally displaced persons from minority communities from the occupied regions in the East/Southeast of Ukraine.
• The third component will give continuity to the assistance so far provided to the Roma community in Ukraine, notably by enhancing the capacity of central and local level institutions in the field of Roma inclusion policies, as well as Roma participation in political and public life at local level.
   

• Office of the Ukrainian Parliament Commissioner for Human Rights (Ombudsman)
• Ukrainian Parliament Committee on Human Rights
• Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine
• Ministry of Culture and Information Policy of Ukraine
• Ministry of Education and Science of Ukraine
• State Service of Ukraine on Ethnic Policy and Freedom of Conscience
• Ukrainian Local Authorities
• National Minority NGOs