Today, the regional office of the Ukrainian Parliament Commissioner for Human Rights launched a new human rights initiative in schools — a project supported by our BGV Charity Fund.

20 schools in Zhytomyr joined the initiative — including students, teachers, School Resource Officers (SROs), and specialists from the Department of Education of the Zhytomyr Regional State Administration.

The goal of the project: To create a safe and supportive school environment where every student knows their rights and can stand up for themselves.

How does it work?

Each participating school will elect a School Ombudsman — a student from grades 8 to 11 — who will receive special training in human rights.

This student will:

• inform peers about their rights,

• receive appeals (in person or anonymously),

• help resolve conflicts,

• and initiate preventive actions and awareness activities.

A key moment of the launch was an open dialogue between students and government representatives — about trust, rights, responsibility, and justice in school.

Participants had the opportunity to meet Yurii Pohodytskyi, the Commissioner’s Representative in the Zhytomyr region, build a shared vision, and outline an action plan for the upcoming academic year.

Together, we’re building a school where every voice matters 💙💛