Florida State University welcomed one of Ukraine's most prominent human rights defenders to discuss her work and the impact of the Russia-Ukraine war.
Oleksandra Matviichuk, head of the Center for Civil Liberties (CCL) in Ukraine, delivered a presentation and participated in a conversation with FSU students, faculty and staff Monday, Feb. 10, in Tallahassee.
The CCL is the first Ukrainian organization to receive the Nobel Peace Prize, which it won in 2022. That same year, Matviichuk was recognized by the Financial Times as one of the top 25 most influential women in the world. Matviichuk and CCL have been instrumental in strengthening Ukrainian civil society and national institutions for over a decade while pushing to further the rule of law and adherence to international law.
During her visit, Matviichuk delivered a morning presentation at Miller Hall "Defending Democracy and Ukraine's Fight for Freedom." Later that day, Matviichuk took part in a fireside chat with Timothy Chapin, dean of the College of Social Sciences and Public Policy, and Vilma Fuentes, director of FSU's Ukraine Task Force.
Matviichuk reflected on the days before the war and the importance of engaging with students.
"I want them to know that ordinary people have a much greater impact than they can even imagine, because we get used to thinking in categories of space and organizations, but ordinary people can change history," she said.
Matviichuk also made a case for how important education is when it comes to the war in her country.
"I believe in education," Matviichuk said. "I think that education is something which can change the world for better."
The conversation looped back to FSU and what the university and others in the United States can do to help Ukraine. From monetary assistance and pressure on local representatives to small acts of kindness on social media, Matviichuk described the sense of hope these acts bring to the people of Ukraine.
"We are a drop in the ocean," she said. "As human beings, this is probably modest, but there is no modest effort as all efforts matter, and together, we're the ocean."
To learn more about FSU's Ukraine Task Force, visit lsi.fsu.edu/fsu-ukraine-task-force.
