At the high-level discussion “Supporting Ukraine, Ukrainian civil society and human rights defenders“ organized by the international civil society in Vienna on 28 March 2022, Dr. Yuliya Erner on behalf of CivilMPlus emphasized that:

• Ukrainian civil society demonstrates paramount courage, engagement, and effectiveness in resisting the aggressor. As never before, civil society partners from Ukraine rely on strong functional international partnerships to support their resistance further.
• Stronger presence in Ukraine by international stakeholders is needed. Offices of international missions and delegations should return to the country. This should enhance security guarantees for everyone and decrease the shellings.
• International monitoring of rights of persons in humanitarian corridors should be conducted.
• Stronger security guarantees for Ukraine-based civil society should be provided by the international community – both on a political level and in terms of practical assistance on the ground.

The discussion was a pre-event for OSCE delegations and stakeholders ahead of the Supplementary Human Dimension Meeting.

Oleksandra Matviychuk, Head of the Board of the Center for Civic Liberties (Ukraine), member of the CivilMPlus, in her powerful speech to the OSCE officials and representatives of the OSCE participating states, called to:

• Rethink the Helsinki Final Act, which stated principles of inviolability of international borders, non-interference in the internal affairs of foreign states and peaceful settlement of disputes.
• Increase international presence in Ukraine.
• Strengthen security guarantees for Ukrainian civil society, activists and journalists in times of the Russian invasion.

The speech was delivered at the opening of the OSCE Supplementary Human Dimension Meeting devoted to the topic of international co-operation to address violations of international humanitarian law and international human rights law.