Young Ukrainian civil servants explore human rights in Lund

Source: https://www.lunduniversity.lu.se/article/young-ukrainian-civil-servants-explore-human-rights-lund Parent: https://www.lunduniversity.lu.se/study/professional-development-and-lifelong-learning/capacity-development-programmes/swedish-institute-academy-young-professionals

Published 23 October 2023

Iryna Tsunovska and Nataliia Kohutyuk in Lund for a training course. Photo: Johan Persson

Iryna Tsunovska and Nataliia Kohutyuk from Ukraine are taking home many new insights on how they can contribute to the protection of human rights in their professional roles. They have just completed a training course at Lund University for young policymakers, public servants and civil society workers from selected countries in the Baltic Sea Region/EU Eastern Partnership.

Almost two weeks packed with lectures, workshops, study visits and networking with new people. It may seem paradoxical, but coming to Lund for an intensive programme of studies has been an important breather.

“To be honest, it feels a bit strange. It’s possible to sleep here! The calm is probably very good for my mental health. To be able to sleep without constantly waking up and worrying,” says Nataliia Kohutyuk from Kyiv.

Nightly drone attacks and persistent siren noise have become part of everyday life for most Ukrainians. Yet they continue their daily lives, working and studying.

“It probably sounds awful, but the human instinct is to adapt to your situation. You get used to it. What else can we do? You have to be brave,” says Nataliia Kohutyuk.

Strengthening human rights through public administration

The training programme “Perspectives on Multi-level Government, Decentralisation and Human Rights” at Lund University provides participants with valuable insights into the role of public administration in protecting human rights, upholding the rule of law and promoting democracy. For Iryna Tsunovska, head of the legal department of the Lviv district council, the course is directly related to her professional role, which includes dealing with citizen demands and fighting corruption.

“The study visits to Region Skåne in Malmö and the City of Lund’s division for sustainable development were particularly valuable for me, as they are directly relevant to my work. Being able to compare the situation in the Lviv region with what I’ve learned in Sweden has given me new ideas and a fantastic international experience.” \

“We must all do our best to support human rights, regardless of the sector we work in, private or public, and use all the tools at our disposal,” says Iryna Tsunovska, on the left. Photo: Johan Persson.

Study visits provided new insights

Nataliia Kohutyuk works as a project manager at the Ukrainian Healthcare Center think tank. They collaborate with various stakeholders to analyse the health and healthcare situation in Ukraine and internationally and provide consultations and policies for governance at the national level.

“Working to reform a structure that should change quickly but is also built on a strong foundation presents many daily challenges. Especially when we are talking about something that is a fundamental right for all people – access to healthcare and medicine. This course has highlighted certain aspects that I will endeavour to implement and measure in all my future projects.”

The study visit to Region Skåne made her realise that no system is perfect.

“In Sweden, the healthcare system offers high quality and service, but there are problems with waiting times. This can affect the availability of certain types of care.”

Challenges and future plans for promoting human rights

One of the main objectives of the programme is to provide participants with tools to identify human rights challenges in their respective contexts and to develop strategies to address them. During the sessions on human rights in practice, they worked together in groups and began to develop plans for follow-up activities. “The programme has given me a valuable network and a deeper understanding of the specific problems faced by other participants from different countries. The network has been very important throughout the course,” says Nataliia Kohutyuk.

Iryna Tsunovska and Nataliia Kohutyuk are both looking forward to a three-day workshop in March 2024 during which they will continue to share insights and work together to promote human rights in their own contexts.

About the programme:

The programme “Perspectives on Multi-level Government, Decentralisation and Human Rights” is offered within the framework of the Swedish Institute Academy for Young Professionals (SAYP).

The programme is aimed at young policymakers, public servants and civil society workers from selected countries in the Baltic Sea Region/EU Eastern Partnership. It serves as a platform to exchange experiences and build knowledge on issues related to public administration.

The programme is run by the School of Economics and Management at Lund University and the Raoul Wallenberg Institute, in collaboration with Lund University Commissioned Education. It consists of a digital premodule including independent studies, eight days on-site in Lund and a follow-up three-day workshop.

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