The Educational House of Human Rights – Chernihiv (ODPL-Ch) is officially opened

November 24, 2014 with the participation of guests from the entire Network of Human Rights Houses (HRH). The event brought together guests not only from all over Ukraine, but also representatives of other Human Rights Houses from Norway, Switzerland, Belarus, Poland, Croatia, Great Britain, Bosnia, Georgia, Armenia and Russia.

RDHL-Ch is part of this Network, which includes 18 Human Rights Houses in 13 countries in Europe, the Western Balkans, the South Caucasus, East Africa and the Horn of Africa. But this is the first and only Human Rights House that has its own direction, namely – the education of human rights defenders.

“The Educational House of Human Rights – Chernihiv is a community of people and organizations that have joined their efforts to protect human rights. And the fact that we already have a building, premises is just a superstructure. The peculiarity of our House is that it is the only one in the entire network – the Educational House of Human Rights – Chernihiv. After all, the idea of ​​creating it arose during the foundation and implementation of the All-Ukrainian educational program “Understanding Human Rights”, which proves that education is not just “education for the sake of education”, but also education that encourages action, which is action. It gives, perhaps not immediately, but long-term and strong results”, – emphasizes in his speech

Serhiy Burov

, Chairman of the Board of the Educational House of Human Rights – Chernihiv, Executive Director of the Public Organization “MART”.

The idea of ​​creating the ODPL-Ch appeared long ago, simultaneously with the implementation of the All-Ukrainian educational program “Understanding Human Rights”, within the framework of which numerous trainings, master classes, and schools on human rights are organized and implemented. Therefore, we can say that on the opening day, the program finally found a home. After all, the founders of the Educational House of Human Rights – Chernihiv are 7 human rights organizations from all over Ukraine, each of which unites several more or cooperates with others in the network of human rights organizations of Ukraine. This is the Ukrainian Helsinki Human Rights Union, which is already a network, an association of like-minded people who act together to implement a common goal and build a civil society. Also, one of the organizations that is part of the Public Union ODPL-Ch is the Public Organization “MART”, which is the permanent coordinator of the program “Understanding Human Rights” and the initiator of the creation of ODPL-Ch. The founders also include the Center for Civic Education “Almenda” (Yalta, Crimea) and the Human Rights Center “Postup” (Luhansk), which were forced to leave their permanent place of work and move to work in Kyiv. Two more Chernihiv organizations are also among the founders: the Center for Humanistic Technologies “AHALAR” and the Chernihiv Public Committee for the Protection of Human Rights. The Western region is represented by the Transcarpathian Public Center from Uzhgorod.

Therefore, today, through the joint efforts of these organizations, with the support of the Network of Human Rights Houses, not only a new educational center for human rights defenders has been opened, but also a full-fledged human rights organization that will contribute to the construction of a conscious civil society and democracy; will train activists who will understand the values ​​of human rights and monitor their observance through their actions.

Also, the ODPL-Ch has a huge resource today – its premises with conference rooms, residential and multifunctional rooms. Therefore, in modern conditions, it can be used by other organizations as a resource, ready to hold their meetings, seminars and trainings. Also, given the current situation with frequent persecution and persecution of human rights defenders, the Educational House of Human Rights – Chernihiv can serve as a kind of shelter for such activists and their families.

This, and not only, was spoken about by the guests who attended the opening ceremony of the ODPL-Ch:

Maria Dale

, executive director of the Network of Human Rights Houses, director of the Belarusian House of Human Rights named after Boris Zvosky in exile

Tetiana Revyaka

, there were also representatives of those thanks to whom this house was able to start functioning – donors. The First Secretary of the Norwegian Embassy

Sigbjorn Lytland

also delivered a welcoming speech, as well as representatives of the International Renaissance Foundation and the United Nations Development Program in Ukraine,

Arkady Bushchenko

, a member of the board of the Human Rights House in Kyiv, executive director of the Ukrainian Helsinki Human Rights Union.

“We are very pleased to be here today. We have been cooperating with Ukrainian human rights defenders in the field of education for many years. So who are we – the Network of Human Rights Houses? We are all civil society actors working in the field of human rights. The Network unites people who are completely independent and autonomous in their activities, but coordinate their efforts to protect human rights. The creation of such Human Rights Houses inspires us and gives us energy to coordinate the efforts of all those who care about these problems and organize various campaigns together. This is a very important platform for dialogue between civil society and state institutions. We hope that both the local authorities of Chernihiv and the government of Ukraine will use this opportunity to increase the openness of this dialogue,” said in her opening remarks

Maria Dale

, Executive Director of the Human Rights House Network.

Each of the guests was also invited to take part in an interactive event where they could make their contribution to the foundation of the Educational House of Human Rights in the form of a personally signed symbolic brick.

In the premises of the Educational House of Human Rights – Chernihiv, 3 photo exhibitions about the events of Maidan and in the East of Ukraine, as well as an exhibition of the Network of Human Rights Houses of women human rights defenders, operated throughout the day.

The Network of Human Rights Houses created an exhibition with photographs of women human rights defenders in the form of a photo contest. A jury of professional photographers from London reviewed the works sent from 12 Human Rights Houses and selected the winner. The exhibition was first held in London on June 19, 2014. Now, guests of the opening ceremony of the Human Rights Educational House – Chernihiv have a unique opportunity to see the exhibition in the premises of the ODPL-Ch. The idea of ​​the exhibition is to show how women working in the field of human rights are challenging gender inequality and stereotypes, sexual and reproductive rights and contributing to the empowerment and participation of women in society. The photographers of this exhibition use portraits of human rights defenders to show their courage and wisdom.

The exhibition of photographs by Marianne Hardy shows the realities of the Euromaidan in Kyiv, starting from November 2013 to February 2014. They show how the Maidan began, what people came out for and consolidated, as well as the other side of the barricades – how the then government met with fire those who wanted to change their lives for the better. The photojournalist tried to show both sides of the conflict as befits an independent photojournalist. The exhibition “Revolution of Dignity” shows the emotions that people experienced during the Euromaidan events.

Also, guests of the ODPL-Ch were offered to view an exhibition of photographs

Konstantin Reutsky

, a volunteer and activist of the Vostok-SOS initiative, Chairman of the Board of the Human Rights Center “Postup”. In the photo, the author shows the results of numerous bombings of settlements in Eastern Ukraine, what the cities he himself visited look like today. Today, there is a war in Ukraine and it is not yet known when it will end. It is important that people from all regions of Ukraine understand what is happening in their country, do not forget about it and help in various ways to support those who are today on the battlefield for their peace in their own homes. In addition, the participants had the opportunity to watch a video filmed during the travels of

Konstantin Reutsky

around Eastern Ukraine and the documentation of all the events that took place before his eyes. The exhibition was placed in a symbolic army tent.

In general, the Educational House of Human Rights – Chernihiv is supported and owes its opening to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Kingdom of Norway, the United States Agency for International Development (USAID), the International Renaissance Foundation, the United Nations Development Program in Ukraine and all the activists and volunteers who helped in the preparation of the event and are ready to cooperate together in the future.

With a positive attitude, the executive director of the Educational House of Human Rights – Chernihiv

Roman Topka

notes: “I am sure that now our Educational House of Human Rights will become both an additional important factor for the development of the international human rights movement and a powerful educational center in this field.”

Iryna BROKH