OPORA will cooperate with VRU Human Rights Representative Liudmyla Denysova on protection of electoral rights of citizens

Human Rights Representative of the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine Liudmyla Denysova and Head of the Board of Civil Network OPORA Olha Aivazovska have signed an official Cooperation Memorandum on 31 July. The Memorandum is aimed at protection of electoral rights and freedoms of citizens.

It includes the development and realization of joint projects, aimed to strengthen the rule of law and human rights guarantees.

In particular, we are planning to jointly analyze activities of law-enforcement bodies and courts related to the investigation of electoral crimes, and raise citizen awareness about protection of their electoral rights.

“There are certain problems with electoral rights of citizens, for example internally displaced persons. We will insist that the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine should find a mechanism to guarantee the realization of constitutional rights, and will provide a parliamentary oversight of the issue. I think we are able to form a strong position, and organize everything very well with the help of my representatives. These efforts will also help our regional representatives. This cooperation will be organized to protect the rights of our citizens,” – stated Human Rights Representative of the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine Liudmyla Denysova.

Ms. Denysova has also informed that there is a person in the Secretariat of Human Rights Representative, authorized to respond on human rights matters.

“This Memorandum displays future development of Office in election period, as well as its plans and plans of non-governmental organizations. There are groups of citizens in Ukraine, which are discriminated in some way when it comes to electoral rights: internally displaced persons, prisoners, and voters, which have problems with registration or receiving a passport. They require a set of measures in this regard. Thus, formation of a network of civic ombudsmen, facilitation, communication and efficient cooperation with your local and central offices, will become the first steps,” – stated Head of the Board Civil Network OPORA Olha Aivazovska.

We remind that OPORA has launched the project titled “Electoral reform to strengthen the power of agents of change and support public dialog”, supported by the Delegation of the European Union to Ukraine, and deploys a network of electoral rights ombudsmen in 24 oblasts and Kyiv for 2019 national elections, 2020 local elections and inter-election period.

Civic ombudsmen will guarantee an ongoing monitoring and analysis of criminal cases related to electoral crimes, will track each resonant or important case, and assist in its legal investigation. We expect ombudsmen to become opinion leaders, and hope that connection between the voters, candidates, law-enforcement bodies and human rights representatives will help to prevent or regulate electoral conflicts.