Chernihiv Public Committee for Human Rights Protection strengthens the institutional capacity for sustainable response to the challenges of war.

When a country lives in conditions of war, assistance does not stop for a day. But behind every consultation, every trip to the community and every story of support is not only the team, but also the organization’s ability to withstand this load every day.

Our team has been working in the field of human rights protection for over 25 years and during this time has implemented over 70 projects with the support of international partners. After 2022, the organization not only maintained its activities, but also significantly expanded them, adapting to the new challenges of war.

Over the past three years, we have provided comprehensive assistance to thousands of people. We provided over 4,000 legal consultations, prepared about 500 procedural documents and provided support for over 300 court cases. The organization systematically works with victims of war-related gender-based and sexual violence, and also documents war crimes and provides legal support to victims.

In parallel, the NGO “Chernihiv Public Committee for the Protection of Human Rights” carries out direct “field” work in border, affected and deoccupied communities of the region in conditions of increased security risks. This makes it one of the few local NGOs that combine systematic human rights activities with practical assistance on the ground.

Humanitarian support has become an important component: in 2022–2023, more than 3,000 households received assistance.

15 tons of food, 2 tons of baby food, 15 tons of clothing and medicines, as well as 850 boilers for educational institutions in the region worth more than 4.5 million UAH were transferred. More than 800 children received the necessary support.

The organization also plays a key role in strengthening the response system to violence and human trafficking. During this period, almost 1,000 representatives of the national interaction mechanism were trained – from police officers to social workers and educators. More than 10,000 people were reached by educational activities, and 100 trained student leaders passed on their knowledge to more than 1,500 peers.

Thanks to its systematic work, the organization has become one of the key non-governmental coordinators in the region for responding to war-related gender-based and sexual violence, as well as combating human trafficking. We also initiate and develop partner networks – in particular, joining coalitions and platforms that unite dozens of civil society organizations and activists.

In total, more than 30 projects were implemented in 2022–2024 with the support of international partners, which allowed us to ensure the continuity of assistance even in the most difficult conditions.

At the same time, these results are achieved in the face of significant challenges. The growth of the population’s needs is combined with a reduction in resources. For example, in 2025, the organization’s budget decreased by approximately 35% due to the suspension of part of international funding. This created additional pressure on teams working in crisis conditions.

That is why today the key task is not only to continue operations, but also to systematically strengthen institutional capacity.

Within the framework of the new project, the organization will focus on:

–   updating strategic planning and management processes;

–   strengthening human resources and team support;

–   increasing the level of physical and digital security;

–   developing communication capacity;

–   ensuring a more systemic and long-term impact in communities.

Institutional support is an investment in the organization’s ability to work stably, safely and strategically in war conditions. This is what allows us to provide continuous assistance to victims and build community resilience in the long term.