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In 2020, ABA ROLI launched a program designed to increase national unity, promote civic identity, and foster informed and constructive dialogue on issues central to the country’s European future. The four-year, Promoting Social Cohesion in Ukraine Program—known as “Pro-SoCo”—is funded by the U.S. Department of State’s Bureau of Democracy, Human Rights, and Labor (DRL).. We are focused on increasing social cohesion in Ukraine. Social cohesion is defined as tolerance for differences across groups and their unity around democratic principles and reforms. We seek to unite diverse Ukrainian champions from different regions around shared challenges and national values while aiding them to jointly advocate for key policy reforms. As such, ABA ROLI is working towards greater tolerance of differences and inclusiveness towards vulnerable groups such as ethnic and national minorities, internally displaced persons, and LGBTQI individuals. For example, the program works to bolster the skills of teachers and youth leaders to help prevent discrimination, strengthen tolerance, and promote social cohesion among children—particularly in communities hosting large numbers of persons displaced by the war with Russia.

ABA ROLI strives to unite a diverse cross-section of leaders around common goals of tolerance and national identity among Ukrainians. This coalition includes minorities, youth, media, civil society, and professionals from different regions across the country. We are helping these partners put together a reform agenda and advocate for concrete steps national and local governments can take that could increase tolerance, inclusion, and a sense of civil unity. ABA ROLI also supports local media to challenge stereotypes, influence the sharing of information, promote accurate understanding of timely issues, and contribute to effective advocacy. Our approaches prioritize opportunities for cross-regional cooperation, diverse communication within communities and among different regions, and participation of minorities and vulnerable groups.

ABA ROLI employs several cross-regional tools to help Ukrainian advocates understand existing social divisions and develop new initiatives for social cohesion, including participatory democracy schools, educational camps for youth groups, democracy cafes, an online “living” library (containing stories of successful initiatives by activists and teachers around the country), and a network of local governance champions and tolerance ambassadors. To further assist this effort to counter stereotypes and disunity, ABA ROLI supports journalists—through funding and mentorship—to develop cross-regional media initiatives aimed at challenging misinformation and perceptions undermining social cohesion. In conjunction with these efforts, ABA ROLI aids Ukrainian human rights defenders develop a unified approach to advocating for reforms and stimulating social cohesion, including legislative recommendations, an all-civil society conference, and advocacy campaigns.

Illustrative achievements to date include the following:

  • In 2021, ABA ROLI launched a "living” library website which serves as a digital forum to share stories that illustrate social cohesion among Ukrainian society and promote efforts to counter discrimination towards vulnerable groups. For teachers, the website contains a resource center with videos and informational materials, which focus on creating a tolerant atmosphere in schools.
  • In response to the February 2022 invasion by Russia, ABA ROLI rolled out numerous activities that seek to enlist teachers and youth leaders to help mitigate potential friction between IDPs and representatives of hosting communities. We provide them with tools to combat discrimination and exclusion towards vulnerable children struggling to adapt to new circumstances, particularly ethnic and national minorities, Russian speakers, and children with disabilities.
  • In 2023, ABA ROLI organized two cross-regional, multi-day trainings for internally displaced women aimed at helping them integrate into their new communities, find local job vacancies, and access broader guidance on professional development. 
  • Also in 2023, ABA ROLI developed a new methodology for assessing vulnerable groups’ needs and increasing their involvement in local and regional decision-making processes, mobilized a pool of lawyers equipped to provide legal protections for vulnerable groups free from bias or prejudice, and conducted an information campaign highlighting inspirational cases of cooperation between activists and communities during wartime.
  • In 2023, ABA ROLI assisted in Ukraine’s pursuit of European Union accession by helping the State Service of Ukraine for Ethnic Affairs and Freedom of Conscience to develop new regulations pertaining to the implementation of the Law of Ukraine on National Minorities. We also supported the State Service’s advocacy efforts promoting the valuable contributions made by ethnic minorities in Ukraine’s resistance to Russian aggression.  

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