We would like to offer you a selection of key legislative changes related to the activities of civil society organizations. In the April issue, the Ukrainian Center for Independent Political Research has collected the main topics worth knowing about:
- Online NGO registration on Diia has been launched.
- Updates to the activities of the Ukrainian Cultural Foundation
- A new draft law on bodies of self-organization of the population
- Updated Civil Code
- Regulatory developments on the protection of activists from SLAPP lawsuits
- Discussion of the implementation of the Open Government Partnership action plan
Read more about these changes and find out how they will affect the work of CSOs.
Draft Civil Code Passed in First Reading
What the document is about: The draft code aims to recodify and update civil legislation, unify the regulation of private law relations, and implement best European practices as part of the European integration process.
Changes of direct relevance to CSOs:
- Unification of the organizational and legal forms of legal entities. A legal entity may be established in one of two forms: a partnership or an institution. Partnerships may be either commercial or non-commercial. Accordingly, a CSO may be established as a non-commercial partnership. It is worth noting that the activities of public associations are regulated by the Law of Ukraine “On Public Associations.”
- The scope of the general meeting’s powers has been amended. The general meeting adopts decisions, in particular, regarding the execution of significant legal transactions by a vote of no less than three-quarters of the participants. In this context, a transaction is considered significant if the market value of the subject matter of such a transaction constitutes 10 percent or more of the association’s net assets, as reflected in the most recently approved annual financial statements.
- Improvements to the institution of representation. Clarifies the concept of representation (a representative performs not only legal transactions but also other legal acts), introduces the representative’s duty to inform the person they represent, and emphasizes the full effect of the representative’s actions on the principal (the creation, modification, suspension, resumption, or termination of rights and obligations).
- Extension of personal rights to legal entities. Consequently, a legal entity is the bearer of a personal interest, has the ability to freely use this interest at its own discretion, and may employ permitted means to protect it. In particular, a set of digital rights is introduced—the right to digital personal space (digital privacy) regarding one’s metadata, internet activity history, including search queries, visited web resources, information on the use of digital applications and services, and data generated by devices, by artificial intelligence systems in connection with a legal entity’s use of digital services, and other digital data that collectively reflect the legal entity’s personal space (digital privacy) in the digital environment, as well as others: the right to a name, symbols, information, reputation, and professional secrecy.
- Updates to a range of methods for protecting personal rights. The Code details the right to retraction: a person whose personal rights have been violated by the dissemination of inaccurate information about them has the right to have that information retracted. Inaccurate information is information that does not correspond to reality and/or is presented falsely. Value judgments are not subject to retraction and/or proof of their accuracy. Furthermore, information is considered disseminated if it has been communicated to a third party. Moreover, inaccurate information is subject to retraction regardless of the fault of the person who disseminated such information. A person also has the right to reply, to seek reconciliation, and to demand a ban on the dissemination of information that violates a personal right—if the personal right of a natural person has been violated in a copy of a print media publication, a publication, a film, an audio or audiovisual media program, etc., that is being prepared for release.
Why this matters: The adoption of the new Civil Code directly affects all private legal relationships, as it is the primary legislative act governing them. The draft law represents an important step toward modernizing Ukraine’s civil law in line with European standards. However, it is important to note that these changes are significant and therefore require detailed discussion within the expert academic community. This draft law is not the first attempt to update the Civil Code and, like previous draft laws, raises substantial concerns within civil society. In particular, the provisions that directly affect CSOs:
- The retraction of false information is carried out regardless of the fault of the person who disseminated the information.
That is, civil society activists and journalists face the risk of lawsuits seeking the retraction of false information, even if they did not intentionally disseminate it. For example, a civil society activist may face a demand for retraction (including a lawsuit) for reposting false information on social media.
- The list of issues on which the general meeting makes decisions, including the distribution of assets and members' liability, does not always align with the nature of CSOs.
For example, to enter into a significant transaction (and in the authors’ view, this is a transaction if the value of the property, works, or services that are the subject of such a transaction exceeds ten percent of the value of the association’s net assets, respectively), it is necessary to convene a general meeting and obtain at least three-quarters of the votes of the legal entity’s members, which may be problematic for organizations with a long history of operation or those located in the frontline zone.
A number of other provisions in the draft have also sparked widespread public debate, public campaigns against such changes, and public protests.
The government has approved the State Targeted Social Program for the Development of Volunteer Activities through 2030
What the document covers: The document outlines the implementation of state policy in the field of volunteer activity development through a comprehensive program for 2026–2030. The Program’s goal is to comprehensively support the spread of the volunteer movement, establish a sustainable system for its development, and create effective state policy in this area.
The document identifies six key areas within which measures will be implemented:
- Increasing engagement in volunteering and recognition of organizations working with volunteers. The plan includes developing a regulatory framework to honor such organizations, publicly recognizing them, creating training programs for volunteer activity coordinators, and improving volunteer safety.
- Developing volunteerism infrastructure and digital tools. The program includes the creation of an information and analytical platform to coordinate volunteers and organizations, technical support for it, the ability to verify volunteers’ experience, and the creation of volunteer profiles.
- Engaging youth in volunteer activities. Training and information campaigns are planned through youth centers, and youth are ensured access to volunteer programs and initiatives.
- Improving legislation and social safeguards for volunteers. The plan includes developing regulatory acts on volunteer insurance, expense reimbursement, the recruitment of foreign volunteers, and corporate volunteering.
- Development of volunteering at the community level. Plans include creating local programs to support volunteering, training local government officials, involving volunteers in government activities, and supporting vulnerable population groups.
- Monitoring and research in the field of volunteering. The plan includes regular sociological surveys, analysis of the development of volunteering, study of international experience, and preparation of proposals for legislative changes.
The program aims to achieve a number of quantitative and qualitative results, including:
- increasing the proportion of citizens involved in volunteer activities (to over 20% of the population);
- supporting at least 140 organizations that engage volunteers;
- creating an information and analytical platform and engaging up to 5,000 volunteers and 100 organizations in it;
- expanding youth participation in volunteering and raising the level of volunteer culture;
- introducing insurance mechanisms for volunteers and improving their social protection;
- increasing the number of volunteers involved in the activities of local self-government bodies;
- developing the institutional capacity of organizations working with volunteers;
- creating conditions for attracting foreign volunteers and developing international cooperation
The total funding amounts to 49.5 million UAH, of which 8 million UAH comes from the state budget, and the remainder from other sources, including the Ministry of Labor and Social Policy.
Why it matters: The program establishes a systematic approach to developing volunteer activities, moving from isolated initiatives to a comprehensive state policy. It defines both institutional mechanisms for supporting volunteering (regulatory framework, funding, digital infrastructure) and practical tools for engaging citizens, particularly youth and vulnerable groups.
It is worth noting that the program was developed in active cooperation with the civil society sector, particularly with the UCIPR experts.
A draft law to improve the legal conditions for the activities of bodies of self-organization of the population has been registered
What the document is about: The draft law updates the definition of a “community self-governance body” – a representative body established by residents living within a part of the territory of a territorial community, or within the cities of Kyiv and Sevastopol, to address issues of local significance in accordance with the Constitution and laws of Ukraine.
It is envisaged that the process of establishing such bodies will be initiated through residents’ meetings or conferences, involving the formation of an initiative group, the definition of the body’s area of activity, powers, and composition, and the submission of the relevant set of documents to the local council for approval.
The document also defines the types of local self-government bodies by territorial level (building, street, block, neighborhood, etc.), establishes requirements for their composition, election procedures, terms of office, and grounds for early termination.
The draft law provides for these bodies to perform representative functions, participate in the implementation of local programs, organize initiatives for urban improvement and social support for the population, and engage in public oversight, among other forms of resident participation in addressing local issues. It also clarifies the mechanism for granting local self-government bodies additional powers on a contractual basis, with the transfer of corresponding resources (funds or property).
The financial and material basis for the activities of local self-government bodies will include local budget funds, charitable donations, and other revenues not prohibited by law, and it also establishes requirements for reporting, transparency, and oversight of their activities.
Why it matters: The draft law sets out updated conditions for the establishment and operation of community self-organization bodies, which directly affect residents’ ability to participate in addressing local issues. It also establishes clear procedures for the interaction between these bodies and local self-government authorities, including the process for delegating powers and resources, which determines the format of citizen participation in the implementation of local policies.
The civil society sector welcomes the update to the legislation governing the activities of community self-organization bodies. It is part of the European integration policy under the Roadmap on the Functioning of Democratic Institutions.
A draft law amending the Law “On the Ukrainian Cultural Foundation” has been registered and endorsed by the relevant Verkhovna Rada committee
What the draft law is about: The draft law proposes amendments regarding the definition of terms, approaches to project funding, as well as the organization of the Foundation’s activities and its management. In particular, a separate article is being added to the Law that defines key terms such as “grant,” “project,” “long-term project,” and “project ranking list,” clarifying their meanings, implementation timelines, and funding specifics.
The changes also concern the Fund’s areas of activity: the list of its functions is updated, particularly regarding support for international cooperation, creative activities, and projects for Ukrainians abroad, and an annual process for establishing and approving priority areas of activity is introduced. At the same time, the procedure for compiling and publishing lists of projects at various stages of selection–from submitted applications to signed contracts – is clarified.
The document also changes approaches to project financing: it provides for both full financing and co-financing with the participation of individuals and legal entities, defines the terms of such co-financing through competitive procedures, and allows the implementation of long-term projects with financing in installments (tranches). Additionally, the mechanisms for monitoring, control, and reporting on project implementation are clarified.
Why this matters: The changes clarify the rules for civil society organizations’ participation in the competitive selection process and the management of the Fund, particularly by establishing requirements for their activities (duration of operation, level of engagement, experience) for nominating candidates to the Supervisory Board. Furthermore, the detailed procedures for submitting applications, evaluating, and funding projects establish clearer conditions for CSOs’ access to the Fund’s resources. Additionally, expanding opportunities for co-financing and implementing long-term projects creates new formats for organizations’ participation in the Fund’s programs, while clarifying control and reporting procedures impacts the requirements for project implementation and fund management.
A draft law to protect individuals engaged in civic participation from manifestly unfounded claims and abuses of judicial procedures has been developed
What the document is about: The draft law establishes guarantees for the protection and support of civic participation and civic participants against the abuse of judicial proceedings, regardless of the type of litigation, as well as against other manifestly unfounded claims aimed at preventing, obstructing, or restricting civic participation or punishing it – that is, SLAPP suits.
The draft law contains definitions of the following terms: Civil society actor – a natural person, legal entity, or civil society organization without legal personality that engages in civil society participation. These may include, but are not limited to, journalists, publishers, media entities and their employees, whistleblowers, civil society organizations, professional and creative unions and their members and employees, artists, researchers, scholars, writers, other individuals who disseminate socially necessary information and/or facilitate its dissemination and discussion, or who defend universally recognized human rights and fundamental freedoms, exercise the right to freedom of assembly and association, the right to vote, to be elected, and to participate in a referendum, or who facilitate the exercise of these rights;
Civil society organizations – public associations, local branches of public associations with legal personality, trade unions, their associations, trade union organizations provided for by the trade union’s charter and their associations, creative unions, local branches of creative unions, employers’ organizations, and their associations;
The draft law introduces a definition of abuse of legal proceedings against civic participation and establishes a list of indicators of such abuses, including the filing of unfounded lawsuits, the use of financial or political leverage to exert pressure, the delaying of proceedings, the manipulation of jurisdiction, the filing of multiple lawsuits, or the use of legal proceedings to discredit or intimidate the defendant.
The document establishes safeguards for public participation, including the state’s obligation to ensure a safe environment, access to legal aid, the right to representation in court, and mechanisms to compensate for harm caused by the abuse of legal proceedings.s
Certain provisions provide for special procedural safeguards, including placing the burden of proving the validity of a claim on the plaintiff in cases related to public participation, limiting the possibility of awarding compensation for non-pecuniary damages in the absence of intent, and requiring that the amount of compensation not have a deterrent effect on public participation.on
The draft law also provides for the creation of a Unified State Register of Cases of Abuse of Legal Proceedings against Public Participation, which will be maintained by the Ukrainian Parliament Commissioner for Human Rights, as well as the introduction of separate judicial statistics for such cases.
In addition, the draft law provides for civic organizations to participate in court cases as third parties, the development of alternative dispute resolution mechanisms (negotiations, mediation), and the provision of information on means to protect and support civic participation.
Why it is important: For the first time, this bill defines the strategic use of litigation to undermine public participation (SLAPP) as a separate legal category and establishes mechanisms to counter such practices. It creates a legal framework for treating SLAPP lawsuits as a distinct phenomenon and establishes approaches for identifying them in judicial practice. Such an initiative is timely and appropriate for preventing obstacles to civic activists' activities.
However, such draft laws require careful discussion and development in collaboration with the civil society sector, as well as harmonization with existing legislation regulating the activities of civic associations.
An online registration service for civil society organizations was launched on the Diya portal, based on a model charter
A new feature for civil society organizations has been added to the Diya portal: the ability to register a civil society organization using a model charter.
The service is automated and provided without the direct involvement of a state registrar or the need to visit judicial authorities in person. As a result, the process of establishing an organization is significantly streamlined: filling out the application takes approximately 30 minutes, and the entry in the Unified State Register appears within a few minutes.
Registration is conducted entirely online and includes authorization on the “Diya” portal, completing and signing the application, automatic generation of the necessary documents, and their signing by all co-founders.
In the near future, plans also include launching a service that allows registered civil society organizations to transition to operating under a model charter. Applications can be submitted online, and the review process will take up to three business days.
The launch of the service was preceded by the Cabinet of Ministers’ approval of the Model Charter. This standardized document can serve as a basis for a civil society organization’s operations. Its use simplifies establishing a CSO and ensures compliance with legal requirements.
The Ukrainian Independent Center for Political Research actively participated in implementing these changes – advocating for relevant legislative changes, working on the model charter as part of the National Strategy for the Promotion of Civil Society Development 2021–2026, participating in the development of the model charter within working groups, and subsequently training and familiarizing the civil society sector with this new opportunity.
Discussions are ongoing regarding the draft report on the implementation of the Action Plan for the “Open Government Partnership” Initiative for 2023–2025
The Action Plan includes 10 measures, some of which involve continuing to fulfill key commitments outlined in previous action plans, particularly regarding increasing youth participation in policy formulation and implementation, enhancing transparency in the extractive industries, and ensuring access to scientific information, among others. At the same time, the Action Plan includes new, relevant areas, such as ensuring transparency, accountability, and inclusivity in reconstruction processes; strengthening public participation in the recovery and development of regions and local communities; harmonizing legislation in the context of European integration; and other priority tasks.
The Open Government Partnership initiative aims to unite governments and civil society to implement reforms that improve citizens’ lives. As part of the Initiative, participating countries, in collaboration with civil society organizations, develop and implement national action plans that include specific commitments to transparency, accountability, and public participation.
Please review the draft report and submit your comments by May 8, 2026, using the attached form, to the email address: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..
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The digest is produced by the NGO “Ukrainian Center for Independent Political Research” with the support of the Askold and Dir Fund as part of the Strong Civil Society of Ukraine - a Driver towards Reforms and Democracy project, implemented by ISAR Ednannia and funded by Norway and Sweden. The contents of this publication are the sole responsibility of UCIPR. They can in no way be taken to reflect the views of the Government of Norway, the Government of Sweden, and ISAR Ednannia.
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Read also: Dmytro Yaprakh on Hromadske Radio: How Online NGO Registration Works via the "Diia" Portal