Ukrainian young local leaders driving change
- Video 1
- Video 2
Strasbourg, 11.02.2016 - The Congress of Local and Regional Authorities of the Council of Europe is organising a regional seminar for young local leaders in Kyiv (Ukraine) from 9 to 11 February 2016. This event is part of a series of seminars aimed at spreading a culture of democracy by raising awareness on local and regional democracy principles, and developing the participants’ capacities to engage locally in an active and qualified manner.
Congress member Vitalii Oluyko (Ukraine, SOC) welcomed the 27 participants, at the opening, and encouraged them to get further involved, as it is this new generation that will help to make an effective change in Ukraine.
The participants, representatives of local authorities, of media and of civil society organisations, discussed with Pr. John Loughlin, member of the Group of Independent Experts on the European Charter of Local Self-Governement, the basic principles of local democracy as enshrined in the Charter. Further exchanges took place with Congress members Nino Zurabishvili (Georgia, SOC), and Saimir Plaku (Albania), who briefly presented the local democracy situation in their respective countries and explained the reasons for their engagement in politics. As Nino Zurabishvili stated, “at some point, when you want change to be done, you have to take responsibility and get involved”.
The amalgamation of municipalities and further active involvement of women in political life were of particular interest for the young Ukrainians. During the remaining part of the seminar, they will discuss ethical issues and anticorruption measures, as well as efficient communication between all stakeholders active at the local level. Participants will also propose a set of initiatives that they will further implement as a follow-up to this seminar.
Ukraine joined the Council of Europe on 9 November 1995, ratified the European Charter of Local Self-Government on 11 September 1997 and its Additional Protocol on the right to participate in the affairs of a local authority on 2 September 2014. Countries which have ratified the Charter are bound by its provisions. The Charter imposes compliance with a minimum number of rights and principles, which are the European bedrock of local self-government. The Congress of Local and Regional Authorities of the Council of Europe ensures respect for these principles.
Contact: Marité Moras, Head of the Co-operation Activities Unit Congress of Local and Regional Authorities of the Council of Europe, Tel: +33 3 88 41 22 33