On 25August, 2015 President of Ukraine Petro Poroshenko approved by the Decree № 501/2015 the National Strategy on human rightsaimed to improve the system of protection of rights and freedoms in Ukraine and to unite society around the understanding of the values of the human rights and freedoms which are protected based on the principle of equality and without discrimination.

The adoption of the National Strategy on human rights in extremely difficult conditions of Russian military aggression against Ukraine and temporary occupation of the territory of our state demonstrates Ukraine's commitment to democratic and legal values. By this document protection of human rights and fundamental freedoms is defined as one of the top priorities along with the main tasks in the context of national security and domestic reform. Effective implementation of the Strategy will help solve problems in the area of human rights and strengthen the capacity of the state to counter challenges and risks caused by Russian aggression.

National Strategy on human rights was initiated by the President of Ukraine. Ministry of Foreign Affairs together with the Ministry of Justice and other involved central executive agencies of Ukraine, representatives of the Secretariat of the the Ukrainian Parliament Commissioner for Human Rights and civil society actively participated in the preparation of this strategic document.

The National Strategy was developed with the assistance of international organizations, primarily the UN and the Council of Europe. Thanks to the close cooperation with experts from these organizationsinternational experience and best practice in the field of human rights, including the main elements of the EU Strategy for Human Rights and Democracy adopted in June 2012, took into account in Ukraine’s strategic document on human rights.

Adoption of the National Strategy on human rights is an extremely important step in the context of stabilizing the internal situation in our country and solving the existing problems in the protection of human rightswiththe new challenges and threats, and within the foreign policy sphere.

In particular, this strategic document can be considered as an important element in the European integration process and further strengtheningof the dialogue with the EU.

The National Strategy on the human rights stipulates that while cooperating with other states Ukraine applies an approach based on human rights and freedoms, and develops bilateral relations taking into account international obligations in this area.

Accordingly, MFA will proceed from the fact that the subject of human rights should be seen as a foreign policy priority and accordingly taken into account in further development of Ukraine's relations with other states.

Since the Decree of the President of Ukraine on approving the National Strategy on human rights envisages the development of the Action Plan for its implementation for the period till2020 MFA intends to involve the potential of international organizations, including financial and expert assistance to contribute to the development and further implementation of the Action plan.