Oleksandra Matviichuk

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Oleksandra Matviichuk
Alexsandra Matviyuchuk, Матвійчук Олександра
Born8 October 1983
NationalityUkrainian
OccupationLawyer, Human Rights Defender

Oleksandra Matviichuk (Ukrainian:Матвійчук Олександра В’ячеславівна; born 8 October 1983) is a Kyiv-based human rights lawyer and civil society leader. She heads the non-profit organization The Center for Civil Liberties and is an active campaigner for democratic reforms in her country and the OSCE region.[1]

On June 4, 2021 Matviichuk was nominated by Ukraine for the United Nations Committee against Torture.[2] This is the first time in history Ukraine has nominated a candidate. The election of members takes place on 11 October 2021 in Geneva.[3]

Education[]

Oleksandra Matviichuk attended Taras Shevchenko National University of Kyiv, graduating in 2007 when she was conferred a LL.M. In 2017, she became the first woman to participate in the Ukrainian Emerging Leaders Program of Stanford University.[4][5]

Career[]

Since 2012, Matviichuk has been a member of the Advisory Council under the Commissioner for Human Rights of the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine.[6]

After the violent crackdown of peaceful demonstrations on Independence Square in Kyiv on 30 November 2013, she coordinated the Euromaidan SOS civic initiative. The purpose of Euromaidan SOS was to provide legal assistance to the victims of Euromaidan in Kyiv and other cities of the country, as well as to collect and analyze information to protect protesters and provide interim assessments of the situation.[7] Matviichuk has since then run multiple international mobilization campaigns for the release of prisoners of conscience such as the #letmypeoplego campaign and the #SaveOlegSentsov global action for the release of illegally imprisoned people in Russia and the occupied Crimea and Donbas.[8] She is the author of a number of reports to various UN bodies, Council of Europe, European Union, OSCE and several submissions to the International Criminal Court in The Hauge.[9][5]

Awards & Honours[]

In 2007, Oleksandra Matviichuk was awarded the Vasyl Stus Prize for 'outstanding achievements in this field, clear civic position, and active presence in the Ukrainian cultural space'. She is the youngest winner in the history of the award.[10]

In 2015, Matviichuk became a laurate of the Norwegian 'Lindebrække prize for democracy and human rights'. Chairman of the jury and former Minister of Foreign Affairs in Norway, Jan Petersen motivated their selection: 'It is important to support and honour those who took part in Ukraine's democracy movement. Those who worked day and night, speaking up for a democratic development in Ukraine – and later investigating the crimes that took place at Maidan. This year's recipient of Sjur Lindebrække Prize for Human Rights of Democracy is such a voice.'[11] On February 24, 2016, 16 delegations to the OSCE recognized Matviychuk with their first Democracy Defender Award for 'Exclusive contribution to promoting democracy and human rights'.[12] The U.S. Embassy to Ukraine then recognized Matviichuk as Ukraine's Woman of Courage 2017 for 'her constant and courageous dedication in defending rights of Ukrainian people'.[13]

Summary

  • 2021 - Ukraine's candidate to the UN Committee against Torture[3]
  • 2017 - "Ukranines Woman of Courage" Award from the U.S Embassy.[13][14]
  • 2016 - Democracy Defender Award, OSCE Parliamentary Assembly[12][15][14]
  • 2015 - "Sjur Lindebrakke Prize for Democracy and Human Rights", Kingdom of Norway
  • 2007 - The Vasyl Stus Prize, Ukrainian Center of PEN International[10]

Major publications in English[]

"The Fear Peninsula: Chronicles of Occupation and Violation of Human Rights in Crimea"[16]

“The Price of Freedom” - Summary of the public report of human rights organizations on crimes against humanity committed during the period of Euromaidan[17]

"28 Kremlin Hostages” - Main violations and prospects for release[18]

References[]

  1. ^ "Oleksandra Matviychuk - Ukraine | Coalition for the International Criminal Court". www.coalitionfortheicc.org. Retrieved 2021-08-17.
  2. ^ "Оголошення про результати добору кандидата для висунення на обрання членом комітету ООН проти катувань". minjust.gov.ua (in Russian). 4 June 2021. Retrieved 2021-08-17.
  3. ^ a b "OHCHR | 18th Meeting of States parties - Elections 2021". www.ohchr.org. Retrieved 2021-08-17.
  4. ^ University, © Stanford; Stanford; Complaints, California 94305 Copyright. "Ukrainian Emerging Leaders Cohort 2017-18". fsi.stanford.edu. Retrieved 2021-08-17.
  5. ^ a b "Oleksandra Matviichuk | CivilMPlus" (in French). 2018-04-27. Retrieved 2021-08-17.
  6. ^ "Про створення консультативної ради". Офіційний вебпортал парламенту України (in Ukrainian). Retrieved 2021-08-17.
  7. ^ "Євромайдан SOS". maidanmuseum.org (in Ukrainian). Retrieved 2021-08-17.
  8. ^ "Oleksandra Matviichuk". religiousfreedom.in.ua. Retrieved 2021-08-17.
  9. ^ "Oleksandra Matviichuk". Skopje Youth Summit. Retrieved 2021-08-17.
  10. ^ a b "Премія імені Василя Стуса". PEN Ukraine (in Ukrainian). Retrieved 2021-08-17.
  11. ^ "Awarded for human rights efforts in Ukraine". Human Rights House Foundation. 2015-04-24. Retrieved 2021-08-17.
  12. ^ a b "Ukrainian Activist Oleksandra Matviychuk Receives Democracy Defender Award". U.S. Mission to the OSCE. 2016-02-24. Retrieved 2021-08-17.
  13. ^ a b "Remarks by Ambassador Yovanovitch at the "Honoring Ukrainian Women of Courage" Event". U.S. Embassy in Ukraine. 2017-03-31. Retrieved 2021-08-17.
  14. ^ a b "Citizens need to hold power to account because 'even an angel can turn into the devil' — EUAM Ukraine". 2020-07-02. Retrieved 2021-08-17.
  15. ^ "Ukrainian Wins Democracy Defender Award". VOA. Retrieved 2021-08-17.
  16. ^ Zayets, Sergiy; Matviichuk, Oleksandra; Pechonchyk, Tetyana; Svyrydova, Dariya; Skrypnyk, Olga (2015-04-20). The Fear Peninsula: Chronicle of Occupation and Violation of Human Rights in Crimea. Crimea is Ukraine.
  17. ^ 2879057. "Summary of the public report of human rights organizations on crimes committed during Euromaidan". Issuu. Retrieved 2021-09-02.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)
  18. ^ "'28 hostages of the Kremlin': main violations and prospects for the release". Open Dialogue Foundation. 2016-01-20. Retrieved 2021-09-02.
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