Constitutional Dimension of Social Justice: International Forum at NaUKMA
On July 1–2, 2025, the International Scientific and Expert Forum “Social Cohesion and Social Justice: Constitutional Dimension” took place. The event was organized by the Rule of Law Research Centre of the National University of “Kyiv-Mohyla Academy” in cooperation with the International Renaissance Foundation and with the participation of leading academic, judicial and governmental institutions of Ukraine and other countries in a hybrid format.
The forum aimed to discuss contemporary challenges and prospects for ensuring social cohesion and social justice through the lens of constitutionalism. Against the backdrop of the Russian Federation’s armed aggression, profound socio-economic transformations, and European integration processes, participants addressed the improvement of mechanisms for guaranteeing social rights, the balance between individual freedoms and collective security, the promotion of equality and justice, as well as the adaptation of international standards within the national legal framework.
The forum gathered judges of the Constitutional Court of Ukraine and the Supreme Court Ukraine, European Court of Human Rights, representatives of the ministries of Ukraine, Supreme Court of Mexico, Council of Europe, scholars from Universidad Alberto Hurtado, (Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México (UNAM), Eötvös Loránd University, Vilniaus universitetas / Vilnius University, Rule of Law Research Centre of the National University of Kyiv-Mohyla Academy, Taras Shevchenko National University of Kyiv, Yuriy Fedkovych Chernivtsi National University, Ivan Franko National University of Lviv, National University “Odesa Law Academy”, Yaroslav Mudryi National Law University, State University of Trade and Economics.
Over two days, five thematic panels were held, covering both theoretical and practical aspects of social cohesion, judicial protection of social rights, the role of constitutional justice in times of crisis, the relationship between international standards and national legislation, and legal protection of vulnerable population groups.
Special attention was given to the mechanisms for implementing social rights under real socio-economic conditions, the state’s positive obligations, the transformation of programmatic provisions into effective constitutional guarantees, as well as issues of inclusivity, anti-discrimination, and the participation of structurally disadvantaged individuals in public life.
The forum served as a platform for professional dialogue between national and international experts, facilitating the exchange of practices and the development of proposals for advancing the constitutional and legal foundations of the social state in Ukraine and beyond.
We sincerely thank all participants for their meaningful contributions to the discussion!
