On November 9-10, 2021, the Annual Conference of the Ukrainian National Platform of the Eastern Partnership Civil Society Forum took place online.
On November 10, 2021, within the framework of the Conference, the presentation of the initiatives of the working groups supported by the UNP in 2021 within the project “Support to the UNP EaP CSF 2021-2023” took place.
On June 30, 2021, the UNP Steering Committee and the Project Supervisory Board held a joint meeting. The participants of the meeting discussed the initiatives submitted by the UNP Working Groups. Particular attention was paid to compliance with the priorities of the Working Groups for 2021, discussion of the initiatives among the members of the Working Groups and whether the initiatives were supported by the members of these working groups. The UNP SC and the Project Supervisory Board recommended to support the 10 initiatives.
Moderator: Marina Gutgarts, UNP Secretary
Get acquainted with the progress of initiatives.
WG 1. Democracy, human rights, good governance and stability
Raising Public Awareness on Combating Stereotypes and Gender Inequality, the Risks of Violence Against Women and Domestic Violence and International Standards in this Area (NGO “Bureau of Social and Political Development”).
Aim of the initiative: to ensure public participation in advocacy of the Council of Europe Istanbul Convention ratification on the prevention of violence against women and domestic violence; to develop proposals on ways to overcome violence against women and gender-based violence urgent measures, aimed at preventing and minimizing domestic violence; the irreversibility of punishment for violence and providing maximum support and assistance to victims, especially children, older people and persons with disabilities. Increase public awareness on the fight against stereotypes and gender inequalities, the risks of violence against women and domestic violence and international standards in this field.
Rostyslav Dzundza CEO of the NGO “Bureau of Social and Political Development”:
Within the framework of the initiative, work proceeds on raising awareness of society regarding the fight against stereotypes and gender inequality, risks of violence against women and domestic violence and international standards of combating it, as well as the development, discussion and adoption of the Positional Statement of civil society on support of the Bill on Amendments to the Code of Ukraine on Administrative Offences and the Criminal Code of Ukraine on Combating Discrimination (No. 5488), including the provisions of the Istanbul Convention.
Respect for Human Rights at the Border during a Coronavirus Pandemic. Mobility Problems and Ways to Solve them (Civic Initiative “Europe without Barriers”).
Aim of the initiative is to promote respect for human rights when crossing a state border by analyzing mobility issues and developing solutions for responsible authorities.
Pavlo Kravchuk Civic Initiative “Europe without Barriers”:
The coronavirus pandemic and accompanying restrictions on citizens’ mobility have affected the practice of crossing the border and citizens’ mobility in general. According to provided analysis and the recommendations, relevant authorities got impartial conclusions regarding the need to maintain a balance between respect for human rights and quarantine restrictions in the field of mobility. In addition, public demand for improved information in this area has been met, and level of relevance of mobility problems for authorities has been raised. Within the framework of this initiative, an analytical report was prepared with recommendations on the protection and observance of human rights when crossing the border on mobility in the context of the pandemic and the associated restrictions.
See PRESENTATION
WG 2. Economic integration and convergence with the EU policy
Transformation of Civil Society in Ukraine in the Economic and European Integration Dimension (Civic Union “Local Economic Development Agency of Yavoriv region”).
Implementation Objectives: exploring civil society development on the current stage, analyzing obstacles for the European standards institutionalization process implemented by civil society organizations and introducing specific steps on substantial civil society building similar to developed countries best practices through harmonizing methods and forms of the civic and political activities.
During the implementation, analytical report “Transformation of Civil Society in Ukraine in the Economic and European Integration Dimension” and proposals of state and regional policies development toward improvement of civil society in Ukraine will be produced.
See PRESENTATION
Alignment of the Policy of Integration into the EU Digital Single Market and Harmonization of Digital Markets of the EaP (Civic Union “The Centre for Innovations Development”).
Aim of the initiative is to evaluate progress of integration into the EU Digital Single Market and harmonization of the digital markets of the EaP, to intensify political dialogue with the participation of the public in order to update the priority challenges of digital development.
Volodymyr Nochvai Володимир Ночвай, Innovation Development Center (WG2 UNP):
An important rresults – increased awareness of the public, expert environment and business through highlighting the progress of digital euro-integration reforms in Ukraine, bringing out the public assessments and proposals to authorities, relevant institutions of the Eastern Partnership and the EU.
See PRESENTATION
WG 3. Environment, climate change and energy security
Environmental and Climate Sustainability of the Eastern Partnership – Assessment of Prospects for Achievement in Ukraine – 2 (Resource and Analysis Center “Society and Environment”, National Ecological Center of Ukraine, International Charitable Organization ” Information Center Green Dossier”, International Charitable Organization ” Environment-People-Law”).
Aim of the initiative was to update analytical document “Environmental and climate sustainability of the Eastern Partnership – assessment of the prospect of achievement in Ukraine”, taking into account new strategic development documents (developed and/or adopted in 2021) and possibilities of green recovery after the lockdown caused by COVID-19. Also, to present results of research in a popular format.
An analysis document prepared in 2020 by the European Commission oт a new vision of the Eastern Partnership policy was updated. In particular, the Economic Strategy of Ukraine until 2030 within the national level and documents as part of the preparation for the summit and the adoption of policies after 2020 within the level of the Eastern Partnership was been taken into account. Reduced version of updated analytical document was been prepared considering main conclusions and recommendations for all involved persons, the Government of Ukraine specifically.
See PRESENTATION
Strategic Environmental Assessment of Community Development Strategies as a Tool for their Sustainable Development (National Environmental Center of Ukraine, International Charitable Organization ” Information Center Green Dossier”, International Charitable Organization “Environment-People-Law”).
Aim of the initiative is to promote effective strategic planning across Ukraine by using proper application SEO tool.
Strategic Environmental Assessment (SEA) is a tool that communities can use for smart and long-term planning of a balanced development of their territories.
Tamara Malkova, Head of International Charitable Organization “Information Center Green Dossier” (WG3 UNP):
We conducted surveys of local NGOs regarding problems of conducting SEA regional development strategies for communities. We analyze the results gained and develop consultative measures on their basis in three areas. We prepared an analytical document that consists of:
1) Highlighting current situation with regard to the SEA regional development programs and the causes of the current situation;
2) Providing positive and negative examples;
3) Developing recommendations for both: community level and regional level through advisory activities to regional programs and government structures responsible for developing local development strategies.
See PRESENTATION
WG 4. Contacts between people
Ways to Develop Professional Digital Competencies in the Cultural Heritage Sector (NGO Agency of European Innovations).
Aim of the initiative is to develop digital transformation processes in the cultural heritage sector by increasing the level of digital competence of all stakeholders.
Ivan Kulchytsky, NGO Agency of European Innovations (WG 4 UNP):
Key problems of digital gap in the cultural heritage sector of Ukraine are: out of date training programs in profiled educational institutions, practical absence of programs for improvement of qualifications of the managing staff of the institutions and of the Ministry of culture and information policy, as well as the absence of curricula of interdisciplinary training of specialists from cultural institutions and IT specialists. Such situation leads to negative consequences as the reduction of economic indicators of the cultural and tourism sector, which is a powerful perspective economic resource of the country; loss of cultural values and national identity; increased threats to national, territorial and state security.
Initiative prepared proposals to special educational courses which provide update knowledge and digital competencies to the management and expertise of the cultural sector, which will contribute to effective strategic planning and systemic digital development of the industry and accelerate digital transformation of the cultural heritage sector.
See PRESENTATION
Encouraged Youngsters. Entrepreneurship Skills and School Social Business (Youth organization STAN).
Aim of the initiative is to develop skills among young people to have a positive impact on the formation of economic and financial stability and development of young people in general.
One of key stages of the initiative was analysis of approaches in entrepreneurial skills formation among the youth of Ivano-Frankivsk OTH and creation of an opportunities map for the development of youth/school entrepreneurship in the community, which was conducted by the expert team of WG4 UNP.
See PRESENTATION
WG 5. Social and labor policy and social dialogue
Standards for the Regulation of Labor Relations: Legal Norms of the EU and Ukraine (the initiative of the WG5, Ukrainian Trade Union of Workers in Tourism, Spa areas and Hotel Industry).
Aim of the initiative. To prepare an analytical document with a comparative review of legislative acts provisions that are developing and discussing in Ukraine currently. Standards are regarding regulation in Ukraine and EU countries, including issues of equality and non-discrimination. In addition, document perform an impact assessment, including an assessment of gender impact, according to the methodology of the Ministry of social policy of Ukraine, and engage organizations to discuss the effectiveness of changes to legislative acts in the sphere of social and labor relations, by proposing possible recommendations for both: authorities and civil society organizations.
Outcome of the project – the analytical research, infographic to key parts of research, as well as introduction to the target audience of the document while developing and discussing legislation reform in the sphere of social and labor relations of Ukraine.
See PRESENTATION
Government and Civil Society: Interaction in the Framework of Public and Social Dialogue (the initiative of the WG5, Federation of Trade Unions of Small and Medium Enterprise of Ukraine).
Aim of the initiative: show the distinctions in subjects, spheres, instruments and results of an interaction between authority and public within the framework of public and social dialogue and specifics of each implementation.
Vyacheslav Roi: Federation of Trade Unions of Small and Medium Enterprise of Ukraine:
Recently, the problem of civil society development and interaction between state and society is the subject of public attention, because its application is a powerful tool for stabilizing public relations in Ukraine. The presence of dialogue is an indicator of government democratization, because it is the only way to form a homogeneous civil culture and develop civil responsibility. At the same time, taking both: civil society environment and government institutions, there is no understanding of differences between public and social dialogue, in particular with regard to subjects, tools, ways of interaction and the consequences of exchange of concepts in process of producing decisions agreed.
See PRESENTATION
Video translation
The Annual Conference Program, 9-10.12.2021
The event was organised within the framework of the project “Activities Support of the EaP SCF 2021-2023”, funded by the European Union, the Eastern Partnership Civil Society Forum and implemented by the Institute for Economic Research and Policy Consulting.
