I am launching a fundraising appeal for the Ukrainian Parliamentary Commissioner for Human Rights to enable them to continue to carry out the important work they do in protecting human rights in Ukraine.

In December 2022 I travelled to Ukraine to speak at a Human Rights Conference at the invitation of the Ukrainian Parliamentary Commissioner for Human Rights (Ombudsman), Commissioner Lubinets. While in Ukraine, I also took the opportunity to visit the Commissioner’s office and staff. The visit allowed me to see first-hand the devastation resulting from the Russian invasion of Ukraine, including the destruction of two regional offices of the Ukrainian Ombudsman by Russian bombing.

Commissioner Lubinets will visit the U.K. in June to speak at the annual Ombudsman Association Conference in Birmingham. At the event, there will be a charitable auction held. At the Parliamentary and Health Service Ombudsman, we are also running several fundraising events, including a bake sale, a Eurovision sweepstake, staff football match, and a staff quiz.

The aim is to raise £10,000 to support the vital work Commissioner Lubinets and his office do in Ukraine, and I would be incredibly grateful for any donation you make to contribute towards this.

With thanks and best wishes,

Rob