On July 1, 2025, Kyiv hosted an important networking event titled “Together to the EU: Synergy between Human Rights Organizations and the Government”, bringing together representatives of human rights NGOs, experts, and government officials. The event was initiated by the ZMINA Human Rights Center to enhance cooperation between civil society and state authorities in the context of Ukraine’s European integration process.
The event provided a platform to support experts working on the shadow report for Chapter 23 “Judiciary and Fundamental Rights” under Cluster I “Fundamentals” of Ukraine–EU negotiations. The discussion was moderated by Alyona Lunova, Advocacy Director at ZMINA, and opened by Tetyana Pechonchyk, Chair of the Board of ZMINA.
Participants emphasized the importance of coordination between civil society and government for implementing human rights–based reforms. They discussed effective communication strategies as well as current challenges, such as limited inclusion in formal consultations and the underrepresentation of NGO recommendations in public policy.
Special attention was given to analyzing roadmaps for Chapters 23 and 24 and the importance of integrating civil society input into official state positions. Discussions also focused on cooperation with the Ministry of Justice of Ukraine, the inclusion of the shadow report in national policy-making, and the formation of a unified human rights platform within the European integration agenda.
The event concluded with informal networking and laid the foundation for stronger coordination in the human rights sphere. Participants agreed that unity and active participation are key to shaping an inclusive European integration agenda.
The event was supported by the project “Supporting Ukraine’s Approximation to the EU in the Rule of Law Area” (3*E4U), implemented by GIZ GmbH on behalf of the Federal Foreign Office of Germany, as part of the broader initiative “Human Rights at the Heart of Ukraine’s European Integration.”
