Among other things, the Office is focused on tackling torture, cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment, preventing and combating discrimination, ensuring the right to life, the right to liberty and security of person, the right to a fair trial, the right to participate in public affairs and elections, the right to privacy, freedom of thought and speech and access to information, freedom of assembly and association, the rights of indigenous peoples and national minorities, the rights of counter-terrorist operations participants, and protecting the rights internally displaced persons.

 

The 24-priority Strategy (2015-2020) was signed by the President in August 2015. It spans a wide range of rights and freedoms, including responses to new challenges (such as supporting human rights in the territories not under control of Ukraine or safeguarding the rights of IDPs). Gender equality was enshrined into the document as a separate priority.

 

UNDP Ukraine played an active role in producing the first National Human Rights Strategy (NHRS) and the National Action Plan, designed to improve the activities of the state in establishing and protecting human rights and freedoms, creating an effective mechanism of their protection, resolving systemic problems in this area.

 

Since November 2014, UNDP experts have participated in NHRS thematic working groups to ensure integration of UN principles and approaches into the document, working with representatives of the Office of the Ombudsperson, the government, CSOs, and international organizations.

 

The National Action Plan development followed the NHRS signing and embraced over 250 experts (both government and CSOs representatives) split in six thematic groups. UNDP commissioned a short-term expertise to facilitate the consultative process and help integrate inputs into a coherent system. Within three months, more than 34 drafting meetings and 3 finalization sessions took place. Finally, the Action Plan, aligned with the Strategy, was signed by the Prime-Minister in November 2015.