The joint European Union and Council of Europe project, entitled: “EU and Council of Europe working together to strengthening protection of human rights in Ukraine”, consists of three components:
1. EU and Council of Europe working together to support freedom of media in Ukraine;
2. EU and Council of Europe working together to strengthen the Ombudsperson’s capacity to protect human rights;
3. EU and Council of Europe working together to Support the Prison Reform in Ukraine.

These project Purpose is to support the alignment of the national legislation and practice in Ukraine with European standards in the areas of media freedom and human rights protection.

The project’s Specific objectives, implemented through three project components, are as follows:
1. To support independence of the public broadcasting, improving safety of journalists; enhancing access to public information and personal data protection;
2. To strengthen the Ombudsperson’s institutional capacity in the areas of prevention of human rights violations, data protection and antidischmination advocacy;
3. To promote human rights-compflant management of prisons as well as further development of a rehabilitative approach to offenders.

Component 1. EU and Council of Europe working together to support freedom of media in Ukraine (Media component)
- The governance system of public broadcaster is built, it is financially sustainable and enjoys editorial independence to fulfill its role of public service media;
- The reform of communal print outlets is finalized, they are strengthened and provide quality journalism at local level;
- Enhanced safety of media actors as a result of guaranteed protection by law and strong nationally owned Rapid Response Mechanism for protection of media actors;
- The Law “On Audiovisual Services” is adopted and implemented in line with EU AVMS Directive and the Council of Europe standards and ensures the independence of the National TV and Radio Broadcasting Council of Ukraine;
- Access to public information and transparency in operations of the information holders is ensured;
-Media coverage of elections is effectively regulated and mechanisms for fighting information disorder and propaganda are introduced resulting with increased transparency of electoral process.

Component 2. EU and Council of Europe working together to strengthen the Ombudsperson’s capacity to protect human rights (Ombudsperson component)
- Legal and regulatory framework of the Ombudsperson’s Office work, its institutional structure and internal procedures are in line with the best European standards including those on gender equality;
- Capacities of the Ombudsperson’s Office to effectively protect against serious human rights violations via efficient realisation of the NPM functions are strengthened with the relevant rehabilitation services created for the victims of torture;
- The right to privacy and data protection are better guaranteed as a result of amended regulatory framework which is implemented in line with the international and European standards;
- Awareness of the Ombudsperson’s Office role and functions is raised within the institutional stakeholders and public in general via communication campaign of the Ombudsperson’s Office as well as its close co-operation and joint actions with the civil society and other institutional partners.

Component 3. EU and Council of Europe working together to Support the Prison Reform in Ukraine (SPERU)
- The Prison Reform Strategy and the Government Action Plan further elaborated, implemented, monitored and revised in line with the CoE standards, rules, procedures and best practices;
- Prison management of Ukrainian prisons improved through introduction of contemporary approaches in line with European practices;
- Prison medical and non-medical staff develop multi-disciplinary skills and competences to address health-related problems of prisoners and detainees in an ethical manner, including mental health problems, HIV/AIDs and transmissible diseases.