Dear colleagues, in the new year, we wish victory to Ukraine, the end of this terrible war and peace to all of us. 

We wish you strength and success in the important work that you are doing – each in his/her own field and in his/her place! 

In 2022, Ukrainians once again demonstrated great strength and readiness to defend their right to self-determination and freedom in the face of Russian aggression. Civil society is the key to stable democracy, and the war clearly demonstrated the ability of Ukrainian society to self-organize and readiness to take civic responsibility for the future of their country and the well-being of fellow citizens. 

The participation of Ukrainians in international projects in the field of human rights protection and the development of democratic institutions has developed many strong partnerships and deepened knowledge about Ukraine. Especially in recent years – after the Revolution of Dignity and the annexation of Crimea – Ukrainian civil activists have become an integral part of many international networks and project activities. Therefore, from the very first hours of the invasion of Russian troops into Ukraine on February 24, 2022, the forces of civil society managed to mobilize support and solidarity with the Ukrainian people in the EU countries. 

This year, the CivilMPlus platform actively used various international platforms and tools to widen the international assistance to Ukraine at all levels – a large number of meetings, seminars, consultations, discussions and interviews were held. Platform participants from different countries met and shared information, discussed the needs and scenarios for the development of the situation, coordinated efforts to support Ukrainian colleagues and all civil activists – it was they who often took the responsibility of providing humanitarian and psychological assistance to the victims, document war crimes, communicate to the world about what was happening in Ukraine. 

In November 2022, CivilMPlus organized the 4th International Forum on European Ukraine in Berlin. More than 300 invited representatives of civil society and government officials from Ukraine and other European countries took part in the conference. The Forum discussed topics related to prosecution for war crimes in Ukraine, social challenges in the country and beyond caused by the war, and the upcoming restoration process in Ukraine.  

Platform members from Austausch e.V., in cooperation with the Ukrainian charitable foundation “Vostok SOS” and experts from different EU countries, conducted two monitoring missions in the liberated and frontline territories of Ukraine in May and December this year. Information about what happened and is happening in Ukraine during the Russian occupation and about the needs in the liberated territories is in demand by expert communities of different countries. 

We thank all colleagues from the Ukrainian organizations participating in CivilMPlus – Ukrainian Helsinki Human Rights Union, Kharkiv Human Rights Protection Group, Truth Hounds, Center for Civil Liberties, Country of Free People, Centre of Public Initiatives “Ideas for Change”, Luhansk Oblast Human Rights Center “Alternativa”, Caritas Ukraine, as well as all international participants of the platform, our partners and Ukraine’s friends in the EU and beyond for the great work, cooperation and mutual support in this difficult year. 

In 2023, CivilMPlus will continue its activities aimed at stabilizing, restoring and supporting social cohesion in Ukraine, as well as supporting efforts to document war crimes and restore justice in the context of the war against Ukraine. 

On behalf of all members of the platform, the CivilMPlus secretariat expresses its gratitude to the German Federal Foreign Office for financial support of the platform’s activities. 

Secretariat of the CivilMPlus Civil Society Platform