Our work in Ukraine

Our approach  

Our work in Ukraine dates back to the early 2000s, fostering knowledge exchanges and collaboration between Ukrainians and their counterparts from the Eastern Partnership region and beyond. In response to Russia’s full-scale invasion of the country, we have expanded our efforts through several locally-driven initiatives.  

RWI’s key strength - evidence-based interventions - is critical in the context of Ukraine, particularly as it also fights an information war. At the core of RWI’s approach is cooperation with academic institutions, which are often overlooked as change actors in Ukraine despite their mission to generate knowledge and shape future generations of Ukrainians, critical in turn to address the brain drain that is affecting Ukraine’s capacity to carry out recovery and reform efforts. Yet, what makes RWI stand out is the ability to go beyond academia and cooperate across the spectrum of stakeholders, including government and civil society, in non-confrontational ways.  

The Institute has been internationally acknowledged for creating constructive platforms in difficult contexts for representatives from across sectors to discuss, share experiences, and cooperate on reforms-relevant issues while applying human rights in practice. Leveraging our expertise and experience and recognising our specific niche and scope, RWI can provide unique support to Ukraine whilst harmonising with the efforts of other national and international actors. 

Current projects include partnership with the Association of Legal Clinics of Ukraine, to support Ukrainian IDPs and refugees through legal awareness and assistance, cooperation with Yaroslav Mudryi National Law University to promote sustainable business practices as well as engagement with the Ukrainian Bar Association to combat corruption.  

We have also initiated partnerships with Ministry of Justice (MoJ), the Ukrainian Parliament Commissioner for Human Rights (UPCHR), local authorities, and civil society organisations which will be part of our planned engagement for 2025.  

Read more: https://rwi.lu.se/news/rwis-mission-to-ukraine-successfully-concluded-last-week/  

Learn more about our projects

Learn more about our projects

The Swedish Institute Academy for Young Professionals (SAYP)  

Since 2017, RWI has carried out the Swedish Institute’s Academy for Young Professionals (SAYP), which connects early-career professionals from Baltic and Eastern Partnership countries, including Ukraine. The initiative fosters networking and practical experience exchange while enhancing participants’ understanding of human rights-based approach towards governance. Coordinated by Lund University Commissioned Education (LUCE), SAYP includes modules on “Perspectives on Multi-level Governance, Decentralisation & Human Rights” provided by RWI and Lund University School of Economics and Management (LUSEM). 

Read more: https://rwi.lu.se/the-swedish-institute-academy-for-young-professionals-sayp/  

https://rwi.lu.se/news/sayp-is-a-step-to-leadership-an-interview-with-rwi-europe-office-director-zuzana-zalanova/  

https://rwi.lu.se/news/the-swedish-institute-academy-for-young-professionals-sayp/  

Read about achievements of our former participants: https://rwi.lu.se/news/desegregation-of-pupils-in-albania-and-kosovo-a-human-rights-challenge/  

https://rwi.lu.se/news/armenian-and-georgian-youth-links-human-rights-to-environmental-advocacy/  

Supporting Ukrainians with legal assistance 

  1. The first project is “Standing with Ukraine by Providing Enhanced Rights Protection for IDPs and Refugees”, which supports displaced Ukrainians by strengthening pro bono legal initiatives, IDP Councils, and legal clinics in Ukraine, Poland, and Sweden. It aims to connect these actors for collaboration and training, focusing on regional disparities in access to justice, particularly in areas affected by martial law. Supported by the Swedish Institute, the project addresses gaps in legal assistance to ensure timely support for displaced populations. 
  2. The project “Strengthening the Rights of Ukrainian IDPs and Refugees through Public Legal Education” aims to boost the capacity of civil society organizations and educate displaced Ukrainians on their legal rights. Working closely with the Association of Legal Clinics of Ukraine (ALCU) and its network of 55 clinics, including Sumy State University’s clinic, the project addresses the growing demand for legal aid on war-related issues such as IDP registration and compensation claims. To fill the gaps in legal assistance, the initiative focuses on expanding services and incorporating human rights and International Humanitarian Law (IHL) education into Ukrainian law school programs. 

Read more: https://rwi.lu.se/ukraine-projects/  

https://rwi.lu.se/news/support-for-ukrainian-idps-and-refugees/  

Read about other RWI projects, supporting Ukrainian refugees and IDPs: https://rwi.lu.se/news/legal-assistance-for-ukrainian-refugees-and-idps-presenting-studies-from-ukraine-sweden-and-poland/  

https://rwi.lu.se/blog/legal-aid-to-those-who-were-forced-to-leave-their-homes-ukrainian-and-international-experience/  

Increasing research capacity on sustainable business conduct in Ukraine 

The “BHR4Ukraine” project, initiated in March 2024 through a partnership between RWI and Yaroslav Mudryi National Law University (NLU), is dedicated to strengthening Ukraine’s research capacity in the area of Business and Human Rights (BHR). Supported by the Swedish Institute’s Baltic Sea Neighbourhood Programme, the initiative runs until March 2026, with the goal of promoting business models that respect human rights and meet international and EU standards. 

The project’s importance is heightened by Ukraine’s ongoing conflict, which has created urgent ethical dilemmas for businesses related to labor rights, displacement and human rights violations. In response, the project aims to foster BHR research that aligns business practices with Ukraine’s recovery efforts and promotes responsible conduct in local and international contexts. A core element is a mentorship program, led by experts like Olena Uvarova, which guides early-career researchers through the process of developing impactful research proposals, as well as making publications and podcasts.  

Connecting Ukrainian and Moldovan lawyers to address corruption 

As a part of Addressing Corruption Together (ACT) Academy 30 legal professionals from Moldova and Ukraine are trained to combat corruption through a human rights-based approach. Participants learn about practices, such as anti-corruption toolkits and legal curricula, with mentorship from international experts. The project aims to strengthen integrity and public trust in Moldova’s and Ukraine’s legal sectors, supporting their EU integration efforts.

Previous initiatives

Previous initiatives  

Since 2015, the Raoul Wallenberg Institute (RWI) has been actively involved in supporting human rights efforts in Ukraine through several key projects: 

  1. National Human Rights Action Plan (2015): RWI, in collaboration with the Council of Europe, assessed Ukraine’s Draft National Human Rights Action Plan, sharing recommendations with the Ministry of Justice to inform the plan’s adoption. 
  2. Research exchanges for Belarus Scholars in Ukraine (2015-2019): Partnering with the Human Rights Centre and Kyiv Mohyla Academy, RWI facilitated research visits for Belarus scholars to strengthen their human rights research capacities. 
  3. Mapping to support human rights education and research at Ukrainian universities 2022-23: In response to Ukraine’s 2022 invasion, RWI launched several projects supporting Ukrainian academics in human rights education and research. Firstly, the mapping study of eight Ukrainian law schools, led by RWI and Arsen Markiv, identified challenges in promoting human rights during the war and offered recommendations for the future. RWI also co-organized a roundtable titled “Academia’s Role to Uphold Human Rights in Ukraine”, gathering experts to discuss academia’s role in upholding human rights in Ukraine.  Read more about the report: https://rwi.lu.se/news/ukraine-mapping-report/  https://rwi.lu.se/blog/after-human-rights-violations-in-ukraine-the-building-of-knowledge-that-just-cant-wait/  
  4. International Forums and Panels (2023): RWI actively participated in key international forums, including the World Human Rights Cities Forum, where RWI’s Deputy Research Director moderated a discussion on human rights and corruption with the Mayor of Mykolaiv. Additionally, RWI’s Director spoke at the Kharkiv International Legal Forum on the challenges and solutions for education in the 21st century, further highlighting RWI’s role in shaping the human rights discourse in Ukraine. Read more about RWI, participating in events on Ukraine:  https://rwi.lu.se/news/on-ukraine-insights-from-a-discussion-event/  https://rwi.lu.se/news/initiatives-for-ukrainian-refugees-in-lund/  https://rwi.lu.se/news/vii-kharkiv-international-legal-forum/

 

Ukraine Staff

Zuzana Zalanova

Zuzana Zalanova

Operations and Regional Director - Europe

Phone: +46 46 222 12 57
E-mail: zuzana.zalanova@rwi.lu.se

Ms. Zalanova has been promoting human rights, good governance, and civic engagement in various capacities in Europe and Central Asia.

Since joining RWI in 2018, she has led RWI programme in Belarus (until 2020), initiated and expanded RWI programme in Armenia, and broadened regional engagement with initiatives in Uzbekistan and the Western Balkans. Her expanding portfolio includes four projects in Ukraine, supported by sub-regional engagement in Poland and Moldova.

In 2023, Ms. Zalanova also assumed the role of Acting Executive Director of the International Legal Assistance Consortium (ILAC), an international nongovernmental consortium established in 2002 to help coordinate and support the efforts of legal professionals to rebuild justice institutions in conflict and post-conflict countries. Through its member organisations and individuals, ILAC is comprised of more than 3 million legal professionals worldwide, including judges, lawyers, prosecutors, and court administrators.

Ms. Zalanova teaches regularly international development, human rights, and project management at three faculties of the Lund University in Sweden.

Before joining RWI, Ms. Zalanova worked for the United Nations in Ukraine, leading the UN Volunteers programme with a focus on civic and youth engagement. She previously coordinated rule of law programmes of the International Development Law Organisation (IDLO) in Mongolia, Central Asia and Eastern Europe, supported regional human rights and justice initiatives of the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) in Europe and Central Asia, and managed the EU-Russia Civil Society Forum, a platform of civil society actors from the EU and Russia.

Ms. Zalanova holds a bachelor’s degree in Political Science, a master’s degree in Security Studies, and a joint (bachelor’s and master’s) degree in International Relations with a specialisation in Non-Profit Management from her studies in the Czech Republic (Charles University, University of Economics) and the United Kingdom (University of Reading).

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David Eile

David Eile

Senior Programme Officer

Phone: +46 46 222 12 58
E-mail: david.eile@rwi.lu.se

David Eile currently works as a Senior Programme Officer responsible for various projects under RWI’s Europe Office, focusing on different forms of academic cooperation in Europe and Cuba. Since joining RWI in 2006, David worked with various human rights programmes in Africa, Asia, Europe, and Latin America. David has an MA in Anthropology from Lund University and is a doctoral candidate in Cultural Anthropology at the University of Uppsala.

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Tatsiana Rahozina

Tanya. intern Europe Office

Tatsiana Rahozina

Programme Associate

E-mail: tatsiana.rahozina@rwi.lu.se

Before joining RWI’s Europe Office, Tanya gained experience in the fields of human rights and development at the Istanbul regional hub of UNDP working with a gender equality team, the Swedish section of the Women’s International League for Peace and Freedom (WILPF), MSF, and the Varieties of Democracy Institute. She holds an MSc in International Development and Management (LUMID) and an MSc in Global Studies from Lund University as well as a BA in International Relations.

In the capacity of a Department Associate, Tanya will continue working on the projects “Strengthening the Rights of Ukrainian IDPs and Refugees through Public Legal Education” and “Standing with Ukraine by Providing Enhanced Rights Protection for IDPs and Refugees” implemented by the RWI and its partners, ALCU and PLCF.

Tanya is fluent in English, Swedish, Belarusian, and Russian.

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