UWC Executive Director Roman Zyla embarks on working trip to Ukraine

Dr. Roman Zyla, Executive Director of the Ukrainian World Congress (UWC), is on a 15-day working visit that ends on Dec. 7 to meet with government officials, the International Organization for Migration (IOM), and civil society groups to discuss key areas of cooperation and support for Ukraine. 

Already on Dec. 2, he signed a historic memorandum of cooperation with IOM. 

It outlines coordination of humanitarian aid, the implementation of recovery projects for Ukraine, and the involvement of the global Ukrainian community in the country’s rebuilding efforts.

Zyla also met with Mariana Betsa, the deputy foreign affairs minister. They discussed several key issues, including the confiscation of frozen Russian assets and the creation of a special war crimes tribunal for Russia. 

They also focused on the critical issue of repatriating forcibly abducted children and discussed preparations for a global campaign to mark the third year of Russia’s full-scale invasion.

Zyla’s meetings included officials from the Education Ministry, including Yevhen Kudriavets, First Deputy Minister of Education and Science for European Integration, Albina Tsiatkovska, General Director of the Directorate for International Cooperation, and Valeriia Hokhman, the State Expert at the Directorate of School Education, on Dec. 5.

They discussed cooperation with Ukrainian educational institutions abroad, focusing on revitalizing the International Ukrainian School and engaging the global network of Ukrainian educational institutions to support the instruction of young Ukrainians who have been displaced by the war. 

Zyla mentioned that the UWC’s International Educational Coordinating Council (IECC) currently unites 350 Ukrainian educational institutions worldwide, fostering cooperation between the Education Ministry and the UWC. 

Education plays a crucial role in preserving Ukrainian identity abroad and maintaining connections to Ukraine for the millions of families who have fled due to Russia’s aggression, as emphasized by those who were present.

Toward the end of his visit, Zyla participated in a panel discussion on “Partnership Between Government and Civil Society as a Guarantee of the Rule of Law in a Democratic World,” organized by the Ukrainian Ombudsman’s Office whose purview is to monitor human rights. 

In his speech, Zyla emphasized that Russia’s war is not only a threat to Ukraine but to human rights and the rule of law globally. He highlighted the vital role of the UWC and the Ukrainian diaspora, who are actively defending the rights of Ukrainian prisoners of war, deported civilians, and abducted children through advocacy, protest rallies, and cooperation with governments.

“My visit to Kyiv gave me the opportunity to strengthen our relationships with UWC partners in Ukraine and lay the foundation for new collaborations,” said Zyla. “Whether it’s economic or military support, or assistance for Ukrainian education abroad, cooperation between Ukraine and the global Ukrainian community is critical in all these areas.”

Zyla was appointed Executive Director of the UWC in October. For more details about his role and background, please follow the link.