14 April 2008. Kyiv, Ukraine - The international conference “Modern challenges of protecting people rights and freedoms” has been launched today in the Parliament of Ukraine devoted to the 60th anniversary of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and the 10th anniversary of the establishment of the Ombudsman institution in Ukraine.
The conference was opened by Speaker of the Parliament of Ukraine Arseniy Yatsenyuk and Ombudsman of Ukraine Nina Karpacheva with participation of over 100 delegates from 50 countries including ombudsmen of EU member-countries and CIS, representatives of the international organizations and diplomatic community, Ukrainian officials, human rights activists and scientists.
Addressing the participants, UN Resident Coordinator in Ukraine Francis M. O’Donnell stated that the UN gives priority to the establishment and strengthening of National Human Rights Institutions in compliance with the Paris Principles because they are the central element of strong and effective national human rights protection systems, which in turn are key to peace, security and economic and social development.
He also pointed out some remaining threats to human rights in Ukraine, including continuing risks of social exclusion, rising prosperity and addressing HIV/AIDS crisis. “Human rights can only advance through equality and social inclusion, whether we are talking about a greater equal role for women in society, at all levels, or the employment of the handicapped, or the integration of migrants and refugees”, he emphasized.UN Resident Coordinator noted that one of the major goals of the UN system worldwide is the support of the efforts of Member States in establishing and strengthening national human rights promotion and protection systems. “In this context, the support of the Parliamentary Ombudsman’s Institution as the National Human Rights Institution of Ukraine, is one of the key priorities of the UN system in Ukraine in this area”, he said.
According to O’Donnell the UN system in Ukraine has long established effective partnership relations with the Ombudsman’s Office, complementing each other’s efforts on a wide range of human rights concerns faced by the country. “Last year we decided to institutional formalize and upgrade our cooperation on a systemic basis through the signature of a Memorandum of Understanding with the Ombudsman’s Office along with a Joint Plan of Activities”, he reminded. “And, ladies and gentlemen, this conference is also one of the outcomes of our joint efforts to raise awareness about and promote human rights”.
Full statement of the UN Resident Coordinator is available here (in English).The other key note speakers of the Conference included Council of Europe Commissioner on Human Rights Tomas Hammarberg, Vice-President of International Institute of Ombudsman, Head of Ombudsmen Council of Austria Peter Kostelka and President of European Institute of Ombudsman Ulrich Galle (Ombudsman of federal land Rhineland-Pfalz, Germany) and Head of the National Assembly of People with Disabilities Valeriy Shushkevych.
During this conference the participants discussed the issues of addressing poverty and labour migration, international terrorism and trafficking in people as well as preventing tortures.
To learn more about 60th anniversary of the Universal Declaration of the Human Rights.
Photo: UNIAN. UN Resident Coordinator in Ukraine Francis O'Donnell, Ombudsman of Ukraine Nina Karpacheva, Head of the Parliament of Ukraine Arseniy Yatsynyuk, Council of Europe Commissioner on Human Rights Tomas Hammarberg.
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14.04.08
