Human rights are not a given, but a conscious choice made by society. Over eleven years of war with Russia, Ukrainian society has undergone profound transformations and strengthened this institution, while Ukraine itself has become, for the civilised world, a symbol of resilience, a steadfast commitment to European values, and a stronghold of freedom and democracy. Even in our most fragile moments, we continue to fight, rebuild and develop, reflect and create. Where do we draw this strength from? And what do we need to endure all of this?
In the RIGHTS NOW! human rights programme of the 22nd Docudays UA International Human Rights Documentary Film Festival, we will explore resources — both national and internal. We will discuss human and economic potential, the power of resistance and cooperation, participatory democracy* as a daily practice, and civic activism as the driving force behind communities and the state. We will reflect on the readiness to take personal responsibility for the present and to shape the future.
This year, the RIGHTS NOW! events — the human rights programme of Docudays UA — will take place from June 7 to 12. These six days will be filled with meaningful discussions featuring leading experts, activists, human rights defenders, and honest conversations with people from diverse walks of life.
We will co-create the morning event section Coffee with Human Rights Defenders together with public organisations and projects that address the challenges of war and strive to bring perpetrators to justice. We will explore how Russia uses culture and education to justify its aggression and attempts to erase Ukrainian identity in children living in temporarily occupied territories. We will reflect on fair accountability for collaborationism. We will also discuss the freedom of peaceful assembly, the issue of liberating Ukrainian women from Russian captivity, and the barriers faced by female civil society leaders.
During the Human Library, we will focus on the value of human potential and on stories of resilience, of overcoming difficult life circumstances, discrimination, and stigma. This time, the ‘books’ will include military personnel, including members of the LGBTIQ community; Ukrainians who have experienced occupation and captivity; people living with autism spectrum disorder and HIV; and representatives of the Iranian and Roma communities. In keeping with tradition, we will also try to build a ‘bridge from the front’ — to connect with defenders currently serving on the front line.
The team behind the War Archive — a non-profit initiative by NGOs Docudays and Infoscope — is also preparing a discussion. The War Archive is the most comprehensive digital repository preserving and systematizing millions of materials related to Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine.
This discussion will bring together documentarians, journalists, and human rights defenders — the authors of films featured in the non-competitive programme ARCHIVE OF WAR / EVIDENCE. They will reflect on the current challenges, shifts in motivation and the evolving realities of documenting war, as well as the ongoing search for meaning in this work three years into the full-scale invasion.
The core of the RIGHTS NOW! human rights programme will be its daytime and evening discussions, dedicated to difficult, sensitive, yet vital topics of human rights, inclusion, and democracy. We will explore them through facts and their interpretation, artistic expressions, and documentary cinema. This discussion panel at the 22nd Docudays UA will open with a solo conversation with Olha Reshetylova, the Commissioner of the President of Ukraine for the Protection of the Rights of Military Personnel and Their Family Members. She will speak about service members as one of the most vulnerable groups in Ukraine today, the challenges they face, and the priority changes needed in legislation and within the Ukrainian Armed Forces. On the same day, 7 June, we will also reflect on the post-truth reality shaped by Russia’s propaganda and disinformation — how it impacts different countries and societies, and how we can resist it. Additionally, we will address decolonisation and the dismantling of myths about Ukraine through artistic projects and cultural diplomacy. What is our true identity — and what should the new image of Ukraine be?
The following day, we invite you to learn more about the issue of sexual abuse of children in cyberspace. During a hands-on workshop, we will share ways to combat such crimes and offer guidance on how to support children in such situations. This event is part of the nationwide information campaign Sexual Violence Online: How to Protect Children — a joint initiative by the NGOs Docudays and Magnolia.
On the evening of June 8, we will focus on the challenges of reintegrating and rehabilitating former Kremlin prisoners. What awaits someone after returning from captivity? How should the state respond, and what role can society play?
On June 9, we will continue the conversation on creating a safe digital environment and protecting children from online sexual violence with a discussion on aligning Ukrainian practices and legislation with European standards. We will analyse the effectiveness of current mechanisms to combat cybercrime, explore the changes Ukraine needs to implement, and consider why this is a shared responsibility of both the state and civil society.
What will Russia do after its military plan to seize Ukraine has failed? Will it attempt to achieve its goals by other means – through the infiltration of pro-Russian ideas and political projects into Ukraine? What can we learn from the experience of Sakartvelo (Georgia)? Amid peace negotiations, we will discuss the risks of a pro-Russian resurgence and the critical need to follow the pro-European course. We will also address another key factor that will shape Ukraine’s future – demography. Under what conditions will people choose to stay in the country, and can Ukraine manage without relying on migrant labour?
Among the most pressing and painful issues we will address in the human rights programme are the pursuit of justice and holding perpetrators accountable. We will examine the current map of Russian war crimes and explore the challenges facing international efforts to document them.
The evening of June 10 will be dedicated to remembrance and reflection. We will honour the loss of some of the most active members of civil society, acknowledge their invaluable contributions that must not be forgotten, and discuss the work that must be carried on.
On June 11, we will discuss the historical memory of the Ukrainian people — something Russia has been systematically attempting to erase for decades. What should Ukraine’s humanitarian policy look like when it comes to restoring and preserving its history? And how can we, in the context of temporary occupation of Ukrainian territories, prevent further ruptures in historical continuity?
Statelessness is a risk that may affect many Ukrainians due to the war — those whose homes and documents have been destroyed by the enemy, or who are fleeing temporarily occupied territories. On this day, we also invite you to watch a story of a man who has been living without a passport for over 30 years. Through the film and the discussion, we will hear the voices of people who find it hard to talk about their rights.
We also invite you to reflect on the achievable goals in the war with Russia, Ukraine’s prospects, and its strategy. Why is this confrontation unlikely to end with the next round of peace talks — and what should we be prepared for in the foreseeable future?
The human rights program of the 22nd Docudays UA will conclude with a film created together with 14 teenagers who experienced evacuation, forced relocation, life under Russian occupation, and living near the front line. A conversation about eleven years of childhood during war offers a moment to ask ourselves: what can — and must — we do as a society to support the younger generation and help them cope with these difficult experiences?
The themes of three events from the human rights program will also be explored through films featured in the Special Events section of the 22nd Docudays UA. These films will powerfully and emotionally highlight issues such as the protection of the rights of military personnel and veterans, democratic resilience, and the experience of and resistance to online sexual violence.
You can find more details about each RIGHTS NOW! 2025 event in the “Programme” section of our website or via the links in the description. Most of the human rights program discussions will take place at the Zhovten Cinema, except for the Coffee with Human Rights Defenders section, which we’re hosting this year on the terrace of the Bursa Hotel. Admission is free for all attendees.
*Participatory democracy is a form of democracy that involves the direct participation of citizens in governing the state and local communities — from preparing and making decisions to overseeing their implementation. It’s about the ability to influence different areas of public life and about shared responsibility.
The 22nd Docudays UA is held with the financial support of the European Union, the Embassy of Sweden in Ukraine, International Renaissance Foundation. The opinions, conclusions, or recommendations do not necessarily reflect the views of the European Union, the governments, or organisations of these countries. Responsibility for the content of the publication lies exclusively with the authors and editors of the publication.
