ODIHR Director reiterates commitment to supporting democracy and human rights in Ukraine during discussions in Kyiv

KYIV, 27 March 2026 – Ensuring the protection of human rights and advancing transparent democratic institutions remain central to Ukraine’s continued progress. The OSCE Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights (ODIHR) remains committed to support these efforts, and its engagement with Ukraine remains strong and diverse, including in the areas of elections, democratic reforms, and monitoring human rights violations, said ODIHR Director Maria Telalian during a visit to Kyiv this week.

“ODIHR has been supporting Ukraine’s efforts to develop strong democratic institutions since 2014, to increase their resilience even in times of conflict,” said Maria Telalian. “My discussions here in Kyiv confirmed the strong commitment of Ukraine to such reforms as an integral part of security, and ODIHR will continue to provide assistance to achieve this aim.”

The Director’s meetings highlighted the depth of ODIHR’s engagement with Ukraine. Since February 2022, ODIHR has gathered extensive documentation on violations of international law, based on some 700 victim and witness testimonies and published in eight detailed reports. ODIHR is also supporting Ukraine through training and expert guidance for legal professionals, and assistance to strengthen parliamentary ethics and combat human trafficking. 

During her two-day visit to Kyiv, ODIHR’s Director held meetings with Ministers and high-level officials from the Office of the President of Ukraine, as well as from the Ministries of Foreign Affairs and Justice. She also met with the Deputy Head of the Central Election Commission, the Ukrainian Parliament Commissioner for Human Rights, as well as the leadership of Ukraine’s Constitutional Court and Supreme Court.

Meetings with civil society representatives in Kyiv reaffirmed their essential role in sustaining democratic resilience and shaping Ukraine’s future. OSCE states have acknowledged the work of civil society to be crucial, and ODIHR remains firmly committed to strengthening co-operation with civil society organizations, supporting their efforts, and ensuring their voices continue to be heard.

The commitment to respect and protect human rights as a prerequisite for peace and long-lasting security is one of the OSCE’s founding principles. In this regard, all OSCE participating states have also recognized the need to “build, strengthen and protect democratic institutions, as well as to promote tolerance throughout society.”