In this lecture, Matviichuk will delve into the evolving role of civil society, particularly in times of conflict and crisis. She will highlight the critical work of Ukraine's civil society, which has expanded its traditional advocacy and watchdog functions to actively participate in national resistance and defense. Ordinary people are doing extraordinary things to foster citizen-state unity, improve local political engagement, and maintain social resilience despite the war's challenges.

Oleksandra Matviichuk leads the human rights NGO Center for Civil Liberties, which was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize in 2022. The organization promotes human rights and democracy in Ukraine and the OSCE region. It works on legislative reforms, conducts public oversight of law enforcement agencies and the judiciary, organizes educational initiatives, and implements international solidarity programs.

Matviichuk also coordinates the activities of the initiative group Euromaidan SOS, which was established in response to the violent suppression of a peaceful student protest in Kyiv on November 30, 2013. Throughout the three-month mass protests known as the Revolution of Dignity, thousands of volunteers provided round-the-clock legal and humanitarian assistance to persecuted individuals nationwide.

Since the onset of Russian aggression in Ukraine in 2014, the initiative has monitored political persecution in occupied Crimea, documented war crimes and crimes against humanity in the Donbas region, and spearheaded international campaigns like #LetMyPeopleGo and #SaveOlegSentsov to secure the release of political prisoners held by Russian authorities.

In response to the full-scale war beginning in February 2022, Matviichuk and other partners launched the Tribunal for Putin initiative to document international crimes under the Rome Statute of the International Criminal Court in all regions of Ukraine targeted by Russian attacks.

Matviichuk has authored numerous reports submitted to various UN bodies, the Council of Europe, the European Union, the OSCE, and the International Criminal Court.

Awards:
● Democracy Defender Award for "Outstanding Contribution to Promoting Democracy and Human Rights" from OSCE missions (2016)
● Right Livelihood Award (2022)
● Sakharov Prize from the European Parliament (2022)
● Named one of the 25 most influential women in the world by Financial Times (2022)
● Global Civic Leadership Award (2024)
● Pahl Peace Prize (2024)

If there is anything we can do to make this event accessible to you, please contact us. Please be aware that advance notice is necessary as some accommodations may require more time for the university to arrange.