Since 2008, the NGO “Helsinki Initiative – XXI” has been a partner of the Ukrainian Helsinki Human Rights Union in the operation of the UHHRU public reception office in Ternopil. During 2009, around 300 applicants received primary legal aid at the reception (the percentage of women in the structure of appeals was 56.6%). 73 consultations were provided during field receptions in settlements of the Ternopil and Ivano-Frankivsk regions. In the period from 1 December 2008 to 30 October 2009, 7 mobile receptions were held in settlements of the Ternopil Region (Zalishchyky, the village of Nahirianka in Chortkiv District, the villages of Pylypche and Vilkhovets in Borshchiv District, the village of Zaliztsi in Zboriv District) and 3 receptions in the districts of the Ivano-Frankivsk Region which, by the Decree of the President of Ukraine No. 682/2008, were recognised as environmental emergency zones following the flood of 23-27 July 2008 (the village of Petryliv in Tlumach District, the town of Sniatyn, and the village of Prutivka in Sniatyn District). In total, 73 consultations were provided during mobile outreach sessions.
During the mobile consultations in the 2008 catastrophic flood zone, along with receiving citizens, monitoring was conducted on the consequences of the natural disaster and the status of their mitigation: through participation in local council sessions and citizens' assemblies, consultations with local authorities, communication with affected residents, and inspection of the progress of recovery works.
Alongside the holding of mobile consultations, printed publications of the UHHRU and its members were distributed in libraries, local government bodies, educational institutions, and NGOs, in particular: the report of human rights organisations “Human Rights in Ukraine – 2008”, the section of said report entitled “Ecological Rights” (published by the NGO “Helsinki Initiative – XXI” as a separate brochure), and UHHRU booklets on practical issues of human rights protection.
Information about the work of the organisation:
Throughout the year, about 20 articles and informational reports were posted in printed and Internet publications, including the information bulletin “Human Rights”, the magazines “Yi”, “Krytyka”, and “Zolota Pektoral”, the newspapers “Dzerkalo Tyzhnia”, “Svoboda” (Ternopil), “I Plyus” (Chortkiv), and the web portals of the UHHRU and the KHPG.
In 2009, the “Helsinki Initiative – XXI” created and maintained its own Internet page: http://21.helsinki.org.ua/.
Participation in UHHRU activities.
In 2009, Oleksandr Stepanenko continued to fulfil his duties as a member of the UHHRU Board.
Throughout 2008–2009, he coordinated the work of the group developing the draft “Declaration of Ethical Principles of the Ukrainian Helsinki Human Rights Union” http://www.helsinki.org.ua/index.php?id=1238684627.
The draft Declaration was presented at the General Meeting of the UHHRU on 1 April 2009. The Declaration was adopted unanimously, and UHHRU members undertook the obligation to adhere to it in their activities.
In January 2009, the text for the section “Ecological Rights” for the report of human rights organisations “Human Rights in Ukraine – 2008” was developed. The aforementioned section was published by the NGO “Helsinki Initiative – XXI” as a separate brochure. In September 2009, Oleksandr Stepanenko developed the draft “Statement of the Ukrainian Helsinki Human Rights Union on the occasion of the 70th anniversary of the outbreak of World War II” http://helsinki.org.ua/index.php?print=1253197922.
On 17 September 2009, the “Helsinki Initiative – XXI” held a conference at the central library of Chortkiv on the occasion of the 70th anniversary of the outbreak of World War II.
The presentation of Oleksandr Stepanenko’s photo exhibition “Singling Out from the Crowd” was timed to coincide with the day of the conference.
In December 2009, for International Human Rights Day, the NGO “Helsinki Initiative – XXI” presented a series of films from the Docudays UA International Festival “Days of Documentary Cinema on Human Rights” in Chortkiv, Zalishchyky, Drohobych, Kosiv, and Kosmach. Alongside the film screenings, publications of the UHHRU and union members, including the NGO “Helsinki Initiative – XXI”, were distributed.
Professional development:
During 2009, Oleksandr Stepanenko completed training at the summer school of the Helsinki Foundation for Human Rights (Warsaw, Poland) and at a UHHRU seminar.
During the year, Olga Kushneryk completed training at a UHHRU seminar for reception consultants and at a UHHRU training session on PR in the work of human rights organisations, and completed the training course for lawyers “Enhancing Skills in International Human Rights Defence”.
Andrii Oleniuk is studying at Columbia University on an Edmund Muskie scholarship administered by the international organisation IREX.
Financial operations of the NGO “Helsinki Initiative – XXI” were not conducted during 2009.
Chairman of the “Helsinki Initiative – XXI”
Stepanenko O. M.