Ukrainian World Congress

Ukrainian World Congress (Ukrainian: Світовий Конґрес Українців) is a non-profit organization, nonpartisan association, international coordination assembly of all Ukrainian public organizations in diaspora. It represents the interests of over 20 million Ukrainians.

The congress has member organizations in 33 countries and ties with Ukrainians in 14 additional countries. Founded in 1967 in New York City as the World Congress of Free Ukrainians, it was renamed in 1993 to its current name. In 2003 the Ukrainian World Congress was recognized by the United Nations Economic and Social Council as a non-governmental organization (NGO) with special consultative status.

The main goals and objectives of the UWC are to: 1) represent the interests of Ukrainians in the diaspora; 2) coordinate an international network of member organizations that support and promote the Ukrainian national identity, spirit, language, culture and achievements of Ukrainians throughout the world; 3) promote the civic development of Ukrainians in their countries of settlement, while fostering a positive attitude towards Ukrainians and the Ukrainian state; and 4) defend the rights of Ukrainians, independently of their place of residence in accordance with the Universal Declaration of Human Rights.

The current President of the UWC is Eugene Czolij from Canada. He was elected in 2008 by the IX World Congress of Ukrainians.

Members of the Executive Committee include: Jaroszlava Hartyanyi, Hungary, 1st vice-president Irene Sushko, Canada, 2nd vice-president, President of the World Federation of Ukrainian Women's Organizations Stefan Romaniw, Australia, Secretary-General Ihor Laszok, USA, Financial Officer Zenon Potichnyj, Canada, Treasurer

13 UWC councils and committees work actively to address questions that define Ukrainian community life. These include human and civil rights, UN matters, awareness of the Holodomor in the international community, education, social services, youth, assistance to Ukrainian citizens living abroad, scholarly matters, culture, the fight against human trafficking, media, sport and the cooperative movement.

Currently, the UWC has been actively promoting Ukraine's Euro-integration in meetings with high-ranking officials of the European Union. The UWC has called for the signing of the EU-Ukraine Association Agreement as early as 25 February 2013 during the EU-Ukraine Summit in Brussels, Belgium.

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Wikipedia