Civil Network OPORA and the International Foundation for Electoral Systems (IFES) issued a Manifesto of Supporters of Electoral Reform in January and now they are launching a nationwide advocacy campaign in support of the main achievements of electoral reform.
A coordination event titled “Forum of Electoral Reform supporters” will mark the start of this campaign and take place on February 15 and 16.
Taking into account the spread of COVID-19, the forum will be administered in a mixed format with participants able to join online while presenters work offline from a Kyiv studio.
Discussions will focus on how electoral reform could be jeopardized by revising the Election Code. We will talk about how Code revision could affect the voting rights of certain groups, progressive changes in electoral procedures, shifts in electoral justice, overcoming political corruption, incentives for political party building.
In summary, we will consider why a return to the previous electoral system in Ukraine would be a mistake.
On the forum’s first day, participants will take part in thematic group discussions on protecting electoral reform. To join this online discussion, complete the form via the link and choose one of the four topics:
- What electoral reform messages should be conveyed to the public to stimulate interest;
- How to develop electoral reform support in the Verkhovna Rada;
- How to engage with local authorities to support electoral reform; and,
- How can political party actions support electoral reform?
At the close of the first day – at 17:00 – a video covering the discussions will be presented on Civil Network’s OPORA’s Facebook page and YouTube channel.
The forum’s second day will be open to all. No registration is required. Discussions from the studio will be broadcast on Civil Network’s OPORA’s Facebook page (Ukrainian) and YouTube channel (English).
| February 16, Wednesday | ||
| 11:00-11:30 | Opening remarks | |
| Olga Aivazovska | Civil Network OPORA | |
| Larisa Galadza | Ambassador of Canada to Ukraine | |
| Peter Erben | IFES Senior Global Electoral Adviser and Ukraine Country Director | |
| Julia Kyrychenko | Centre of Policy and Legal Reform | |
| 11:30-11:40 | Presentation of the OPORA mini-film "History of Electoral Reform in Ukraine" | |
| 11:40-12:40 | Brief presentations on the achievements of electoral reform | |
| Olena Kondratiuk | Deputy Chairperson of the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine | |
| Darya Svyrydova | First Deputy Permanent Representative of the president of Ukraine in the Autonomous Republic of Crimea | |
| Olga Кotsiuruba | Civil Network OPORA | |
| Tanya Herasymova | Fight For Right | |
| 12:40-12:50 | Mini-lecture "Digital Security" | |
| Iurii Lisovskyi | Civil Network OPORA | |
| 12:50-14:00 | Presentation of the plan of joint actions (following the results of the first day of the Forum) | |
| 14:00-14:15 | Mini-lecture "How to protect yourself from disinformation" | |
| Maksym Dvorovyi | Digital Security Lab | |
| 14:15-15:45 | Discussion "Why return to the old electoral system would be a fatal mistake and how to overcome it?" | |
| Oleksandr Kliuzhev | Civil Network OPORA | |
| Olena Shuliak | Servants of the people | |
| Andriy Parubiy | European solidarity | |
| Roman Lozynskyi | Voice | |
| Sergij Soboljev | Homeland | |
| Yurij Levchenko | Narodovladdia (Democracy) | |
| Volodymyr Venher | National University of Kyiv-Mohyla Academy | |
| Denys Kovryzhenko | IFES Ukraine | |
| Olga Aivazovska | Civil Network OPORA | |
| 15:45-16:00 | Summing up. Closing of the Forum. | |
This campaign is a response from electoral reform supporters to attempts at hindering reform and returning to old legislation in the form of two registered bills – Draft Law Number 6444 and Draft Law Number 6444-1 that restore a mixed proportional-majoritarian constituency system of electing Members of Parliament; and statement in the support of such restoration by Servant of the People faction leader David Arahamiya.
Forum organizers’ objective is to develop a strategy for long-term advocacy and coordinate efforts to counter attempts to return to outdated electoral legislation.
This event is organized by Сivil Network OPORA with IFES in Ukraine supported by the United States Agency for International Development (USAID), Global Affairs Canada and UK aid. The contents of this event do not necessarily reflect the views of USAID or the Government of the United States, Global Affairs Canada or the Government of Canada or the Government of the UK.