The final conference of the Council of Europe project "Enhanced Social Protection in Ukraine" was held in Kyiv to present the achievements made over two years of implementation. The event brought together high-ranking officials of the Government of Ukraine, including the team of the Ministry of Social Policy and representatives of the Council of Europe Office, the Office of the President of Ukraine, the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine, international organisations, the judiciary and experts in the field of social rights.

During the event, the results of the Project's work were presented, which, in addition to supporting legislative initiatives, also include building the capacity of local authorities to promote social rights.

"Social rights are not only the basis for the country's recovery after the war, but also an important component of our future as part of the European community," said Oksana Zholnovych, Minister of Social Policy, in her welcoming speech.

She also stressed the importance of continuing cooperation with the Council of Europe to strengthen the social protection system in Ukraine.

"Ukraine remains committed to European standards and is constantly working on their implementation at the national level. We are constantly improving legislation in line with European requirements, which not only guarantees the rights of citizens but also strengthens trust in the state, especially in times of military challenges," the Minister of Social Policy added.

The Council of Europe project "Enhanced Social Protection in Ukraine", launched in 2023 provided the Ministry of Social Policy with expertise that helped harmonise national social standards with European social protection requirements. Key achievements include the adaptation of Ukrainian policy to the standards of the European Social Charter, which guarantees equal rights for all, regardless of gender, nationality, age or health status, and helps protect the rights of vulnerable groups, including children, people with disabilities and victims of violence.

"The Enhanced Social Protection in Ukraine project, implemented under the Resilience, Recovery and Reconstruction (RRR) Action Plan for Ukraine 2023-2026, was aimed at supporting the Ukrainian authorities and other partners in ensuring a decent level of social protection for vulnerable groups, including those affected by the war. Over the past two years, the project has significantly contributed to social sector reforms in Ukraine. I would like to express my sincere gratitude to the national partners, in particular the Ministry of Social Policy of Ukraine, for their commitment, perseverance and resilience in advancing social rights reforms in cooperation with the Council of Europe. I would also like to confirm that Ukraine can count on the Council of Europe's continued support in its efforts to protect the rights of its citizens, especially as it moves towards accession to the European Union," said Maciej Janczak, Head of the Council of Europe Office in Ukraine.

The cooperation of the Ministry of Social Policy with international partners, in particular with the Council of Europe project Enhanced Social Protection in Ukraine, plays an important role in building a modern, effective social protection system based on human support.

The event confirmed the cooperation between Ukraine and the Council of Europe aimed at renewing the social sector. Its future lies in active support of people in their quest for self-realisation and effective enforcement of rights in the context of modern challenges.