30 Years of the Constitution of Ukraine: The Values We Defend Every Day
On June 28, 1996, Ukraine adopted its Constitution – the document that laid the foundation of Ukrainian statehood and enshrined its core principle: the individual, their rights, freedoms, and dignity are the highest value of the state.
Today, as Ukraine endures the greatest challenge in its modern history, the Constitution has taken on even greater significance. Its principles serve as a guide for those who work every day to protect people’s rights.
East SOS is committed to advancing the rights guaranteed by Ukraine’s fundamental law. On the 30th anniversary of the Constitution, we would like to share how the advocacy work of our Human Rights team helps turn constitutional guarantees into reality.
The foundation of all our advocacy efforts is set out in Article 3 of the Constitution of Ukraine:
“An individual, their life and health, honor and dignity, inviolability and security shall be recognized in Ukraine as the highest social value. Human rights and freedoms, and guarantees thereof shall determine the essence and course of activities of the State. The State shall be responsible to the individual for its activities. Affirming and ensuring human rights and freedoms shall be the main duty of the State.”
Other constitutional provisions specify how this principle should be implemented across different areas of public life.
• Housing policy, including in the context of internal displacement, and compensation for damaged and destroyed housing
The right to housing and the protection of property are guaranteed by Articles 47, 41, and 48 of the Constitution. That is why we advocate for improving compensation mechanisms for damaged and destroyed housing, strengthening housing policies for internally displaced people, and promoting solutions that ensure people can live in dignified conditions.
• Civilian evacuation system
Articles 3 and 27 affirm that human life and security are the highest social values and that the State has a duty to protect them. We therefore advocate for the development of an effective civilian evacuation system so that everyone has a genuine opportunity to escape danger.
• Development of social services
Articles 46 and 49 guarantee the right to social protection and medical care. Through our advocacy, we support policies that ensure people affected by war have access to essential social services, assistance, and medical care, regardless of where they live or their personal circumstances.
• State policy on internally displaced people and support for those affected by war
Freedom of movement and the right to choose one’s place of residence (Article 33), together with equality before the law (Article 24), mean that internal displacement must never result in diminished rights. We work to ensure that state policy reflects this principle and that internally displaced people enjoy equal access to all rights and opportunities guaranteed by the State.
• State policy on the temporarily occupied territories
Article 2 establishes that the sovereignty of Ukraine extends throughout its entire territory, while Article 24 guarantees equal rights for all Ukrainian citizens. This means that people living in the temporarily occupied territories do not lose their connection to Ukraine or their constitutional rights. We therefore advocate for policies that preserve this connection and ensure access to public services, education, documentation, and other fundamental rights.
• Equal access to education
Article 53 guarantees everyone’s right to education. We work to ensure that war, occupation, or forced displacement does not prevent people from exercising this right and that Ukrainian education remains accessible to all.
• Human rights protection
Our human rights work is also grounded in Articles 40 and 55 of the Constitution, which guarantee the right to petition public authorities, receive a reasoned reply, and defend one’s rights in court or through the Authorised Human Rights Representative (Ombudsman) to the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine. We help people make use of these mechanisms while also advocating for them to become more effective and accessible.
The specialists of the East SOS Human Rights team do everything possible to ensure that constitutional guarantees become a reality for people affected by war. After all, the Constitution is not an abstract document – it is a social contract affirming that human rights are an unconditional value that must be protected every day.
Earlier this February, we resumed free legal consultations in Dnipro.
