Centre for Democracy and Rule of Law

The Centre for Democracy and Rule of Law (CEDEM, also known by its Ukrainian acronym ЦЕДЕМ) is an independent Ukrainian analytical and advocacy centre founded on 1 February 2005 on the initiative of media lawyer Taras Shevchenko together with colleagues Ihor Rozkladai and Tetiana Oleksiiuk. It was originally called the Institute of Media Law and focused on promoting societal development through impartial professional media expertise, drafting and implementing quality media legislation, media education, court protection of journalists' and citizens' rights, and defence of freedom of speech and fundamental human rights. Over time the organisation broadened its mandate and rebranded as the Centre for Democracy and Rule of Law. CEDEM's mission is to foster a society of active and responsible citizens. Its stated values are responsibility, proactivity, effectiveness, and impartiality. The organisation concentrates its work in three main directions: independent media, civil society, and the rule of law. Within these areas, CEDEM experts draft and advocate quality legislation, monitor and counter threatening legislation, provide impartial legal expertise, advise journalists, volunteers, civil society organisations (CSOs), civic activists and official institutions, run educational programmes for various audiences, support and develop civic initiatives, strengthen the organisational capacity of CSOs and their coalitions, inform citizens about their rights and duties during wartime, develop a culture of physical, legal, digital and mental safety for CSOs, activists and journalists, work on introducing government accountability and establishing the rule of law, and build partnerships with state authorities. CEDEM's work spans media law, copyright, artificial intelligence, social media, media and information literacy, independent media councils, public broadcasting, civil society strengthening programmes, the "For Safe Roads" campaign, the "Kyiv without Tobacco Smoke" initiative, advocacy training projects, European integration, public service reform, access to information, and elections. The organisation runs the "Чесно. Фільтруй суд!" (Honestly. Filter the Court!) project, which maintains a unique online database of judge profiles, and has conducted information campaigns reaching nearly one million Ukrainians, including on information resilience during the war and on support for volunteers. It also organises the annual Legal Reforms Forum for civil society and the annual Story Contest on cooperation between civil society, business and government. CEDEM is a non-profit non-governmental organisation registered in Kyiv, Ukraine, with the legal entity code 33552196. It accepts voluntary donations in Ukrainian hryvnia, US dollars and euros through OTP Bank in Kyiv. The organisation positions itself as institutionally independent and responsive to challenges, working systematically for long-term change. It is active in Ukraine and engages with European and international partners on issues such as EU integration, disinformation, and responsible use of digital technologies and artificial intelligence.

The Centre for Democracy and Rule of Law was founded on 1 February 2005 on the initiative of media lawyer Taras Shevchenko together with colleagues Ihor Rozkladai and Tetiana Oleksiiuk. It was initially named the Institute of Media Law. The organisation's early activity was aimed at promoting societal development through impartial, professional media expertise, the development and implementation of quality media legislation, media education, judicial protection of the rights of journalists and citizens, and the protection of freedom of speech and fundamental human rights. Over the years, the organisation expanded its focus beyond media law to include civil society strengthening and broader rule of law issues, and it adopted its current name, Centre for Democracy and Rule of Law. It defined a mission to foster a society of active and responsible citizens, guided by values of responsibility, proactivity, effectiveness, and impartiality. Its work was organised into three main directions: independent media, civil society, and the rule of law. CEDEM has implemented numerous projects and campaigns. It runs the "Чесно. Фільтруй суд!" (Honestly. Filter the Court!) project, which since 2017 has maintained a unique online database of judge profiles. It has conducted information campaigns that reached nearly one million Ukrainians, including a campaign on information resilience during the war and a campaign to support volunteers. It also ran an information campaign for the cancellation of the deadly "unfined +20 km/h" speed tolerance, and since 2017 has worked to build the habit of wearing seatbelts among Ukrainians. The organisation organises the annual Legal Reforms Forum for civil society and the annual Story Contest on best practices of cooperation between civil society, business and government. It has also held an online school on financial monitoring for the public sector and an Advocacy School for civic activists. More than 2,000 people have completed CEDEM's distance learning programmes. CEDEM is registered in Kyiv, Ukraine, as a non-profit non-governmental organisation with the legal entity code 33552196. It accepts voluntary donations in UAH, USD and EUR through OTP Bank in Kyiv. The organisation continues to work on media law, copyright, artificial intelligence, social media, media and information literacy, independent media councils, public broadcasting, European integration, public service reform, access to information, and elections, and it engages with international partners.

• Founded as the Institute of Media Law on 1 February 2005 by Taras Shevchenko, Ihor Rozkladai and Tetiana Oleksiiuk.

• Renamed Centre for Democracy and Rule of Law and expanded focus to civil society and rule of law.

• Launched the "Чесно. Фільтруй суд!" project, maintaining an online database of judge profiles (since 2017).

• Conducted information campaigns reaching nearly 1 million Ukrainians, including on information resilience during the war and support for volunteers.

• Held the VI Legal Reforms Forum for civil society in Kyiv.

• Organised the VI annual Story Contest on cooperation between civil society, business and government.

• Ran an online school on financial monitoring for the public sector (Module 4).

• More than 2,000 people completed CEDEM's distance learning programmes.

Independent, non-governmental analytical and advocacy centre promoting democracy, rule of law, and independent media in Ukraine.

• Чесно. Фільтруй суд! (Honestly. Filter the Court!)

  Online database of judge profiles and project promoting judicial transparency.

• For Safe Roads campaign

  Advocacy campaign for road safety, including seatbelt use and speed limit enforcement.

• Kyiv without Tobacco Smoke

  Initiative to reduce tobacco smoke in public spaces in Kyiv.

• Legal Reforms Forum for civil society

  Annual forum bringing together civil society to discuss legal reforms.

• Advocacy School

  Training programme for civic activists on how to advocate for changes.

• Online school on financial monitoring for the public sector

  Educational modules on financial monitoring for civil society.

1. 1Головна сторінка - Центр демократії та верховенства праваcedem.org.ua
2. 2Хто ми - Центр демократії та верховенства праваcedem.org.ua
3. 3Історії успіху - Центр демократії та верховенства праваcedem.org.ua
4. 4Підтримати - Центр демократії та верховенства праваcedem.org.ua
5. 5Centre for Democracy and Rule of Law - Wikidatawikidata.org