UWC revives human rights body

by Andrij Kudla Wynnyckyj
Toronto Press Bureau

TORONTO - During the Ukrainian World Congress's 30th anniversary plenary meetings, the diaspora body accepted a plan of action drawn up by former Human Rights Commission activists to revive the advocacy agency under a new name: the Commission on Human and Civil Rights (CHCR).

UWC Vice-President Oleh Romanyshyn met with veteran HRC activists Christina Isajiw and Oleksandra Kovalska during the week preceding the UWC's plenary sessions to hammer out terms of reference.

According to a report filed on May 26, the CHCR would act in accordance with "contemporary geopolitical realities," both in order to safeguard the human and civil rights of Ukrainians, and to defend the reputation of Ukrainians in general.

The CHCR is to consist of and function as a group of activists, rather than as a representative and/or coordinating body, as do most of the UWC's commissions.

The report identifies areas of concern. The Russian Federation, Poland, Romania, Belarus, the Baltic region, Slovakia and Hungary are cited as countries in which the human and civil rights of Ukrainians are being violated. North America is singled out as an area where the civil liberties of Ukrainians are being abridged by way of damaging attacks on their reputation. Latin America is listed as an area that needs further study and attention in matters concerning civil liberties.

The CHCR's plan of action will be to establish a data and documentation base and then to proceed with a program of dissemination of information among international organizations, governments and the media.

The CHCR's activities are subject to periodic review by the UWC Presidium.

Copyright © The Ukrainian Weekly, June 22, 1997, No. 25, Vol. LXV

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