Ukrainian activists introduce “Human Rights Guide” to foster awareness among citizens

The Human Rights Guide is an online human rights education tool, which is essentially the first of its kind in Ukraine. 

The project's main goal is to provide citizens with an understanding of basic human rights and to find solutions to various situations in everyday life where these rights may be violated, Rubryka reports, referring to the Center for Civil Liberties.

What is the problem?

Ukraine is anticipating a significant process of change, both positive and negative. The readiness for these processes within society is also determined by the level of awareness among ordinary citizens. People need tools that will help increase this awareness and understanding of the shifts taking place.

What is the solution?

The online guide, Human Rights Guide, aims to be such a tool. This handbook was created by the Baltic Human Rights Society, an organization that has already implemented a similar educational product in other countries.

How does it work?

"Similar platforms already exist in seven European countries: Latvia, Lithuania, Estonia, Bulgaria, Slovakia, Slovenia, and France. As of the end of November, it is also being launched in three others — Ukraine, Moldova, and Georgia," says Lolita Buka, the leading researcher of the Baltic Human Rights Society.

"This platform is also designed for people whose professional field involves human rights: lawyers, judges, and human rights defenders. The platform can be used for formal and informal education by professors, teachers, and students," said Buka.

The initial version for all countries is in English, and it is the same for everyone, but each country adapts the materials to its context.

"Experts from the Center for Civil Liberties, Viacheslav Lykhachov and Volodymyr Yavorskyi, worked to adapt the guide to our realities and needs. We really hope that its language will be as close to reality as possible, as well as the examples," said Oleksandra Romantsova, the executive director of the Center for Civil Liberties.

The guide will continue to evolve, incorporating new nuances over time.

"Even when we need to understand the difference in a specific right here, in Poland, France, or Latvia, we can see it. Just like how we are seeing our development in the European community with human rights standards," said Romantsova.

The guide is already available in Ukrainian and English. More information about its presentation can be found on the website of the Center for Civil Liberties.