June 28, 1996 the Basic Law of Ukraine, the Constitution of Ukraine was adopted, which enshrined fundamental rights and freedoms of man and citizen. Article 59 of the Constitution provides that "everyone has the right to legal assistance. In the cases stipulated by law, such assistance is provided free of charge". The right to free legal assistance is equally provided by the Convention on the Protection of Human Rights and Fundamental Freedoms. However, in Ukraine this right is rarely exercised. The right to free legal assistance and its accordance mechanism are actually specified only in criminal proceedings, but in practice they are virtually never exercised, because there is no real accordance mechanism and funding criteria of this rule. In civil, administrative and economic proceedings the low-income people, even theoretically, have no opportunity to exercise their right to legal aid, and in reality access to justice is virtually closed to them, because for a person not affiliated with law it is difficult to break through the formal requirements by the "bureaucratic machine of justice". At the present time in Ukraine the minimum wage, average pension level and average monthly income of most Ukrainians do not exceed 1000 UAH. A person, who applies for qualified legal assistance, will pay about 500 UAH on average for making a claim, paying the court fee, and representation in court, as well as around 500 UAH on average for one trial. With the rapid increase in energy prices and a rise in price of rent, it's hard to imagine how an average Ukrainian may find additional funds to exercise their right to legal assistance.

At the state level, the question of exercising the constitutional right to legal aid is being solved very slowly. The draft law "On free legal assistance" submitted to the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine back in 2001, has not been adopted. The only effective step in this direction has been the concept of formation of free legal assistance in Ukraine adopted by the National Commission on Strengthening Democracy and the Rule of Law in Ukraine.

Thus, where there are no state mechanisms for exercising the constitutional right to legal aid, the task of non-governmental organizations in cooperation with the Ministry of Justice is to contribute effectively to the implementation of this law.

NGO "Zaporozhye Human Rights League "Universal" was founded 07.02.2000 by the lawyers D.O. Tarasov, O.V. Yareshko, A.M. Zabrodin, A.L. Oleshko, A.V. Grankin to provide legal practice for law students during provision of free legal aid to vulnerable categories of population.

06.27.2000, the NGO "Zaporozhye Human Rights League "Universal" was officially legalized by the decision of the Executive Committee of Zaporozhye City Council No. 216/3.

During 2000-2001 NGO "Zaporozhye Human Rights League "Universal", with the support of the "Dosye" newspaper was actively working to provide free legal aid to vulnerable categories of population of Zaporozhye. During that time about 500 people were consulted and given legal aid. Since the information about the organization was featured in the regional "Dosye" newspaper, the organization was addressed and asked for help by rural residents, who were provided with advice in writing.

During 2001-2002 the members of the organization graduated from universities of law and during 2002 to 2004 the NGO "Zaporozhye Human Rights League "Universal" worked as a law clinic at the Faculty of Law at Zaporozhye State University. The activity of law clinic was aimed at providing free legal aid to vulnerable categories of people of Zaporozhye as well as assisting students in getting legal practice.

Currently, the organization continues to implement its goals and objectives and for this it has all the opportunities: experienced and qualified legal practitioners, established contacts with other NGOs, law firms and public authorities, as well as substantial material and technical foundation.

The NGO "Zaporozhye Human Rights League "Universal" collaborates with the regional "MIG" newspaper, whose correspondents accompany mobile field teams of lawyers in rural areas of Zaporozhye region and illustrate their work.

Employees of NGO "Zaporozhye Human Rights League "Universal" have experience of interaction with village councils in order to organize work of mobile field teams and notify rural residents of their work.

In addition, the NGO "Zaporozhye Human Rights League "Universal" is a partner of Zaporozhye regional justice department, "Spodivannya" charity fund engaged in work with injection drug users, sex workers, people with HIV/AIDS, as well as with the "Vasha Nadezhda" Resocialization Center for persons without permanent residence and the "Shlyah" Resocialization Center for young drug addicts. Thus, clients of the "Spodivannya" charity fund, "Vasha Nadezhda" Resocialization Center and "Shlyah" Resocialization Center, who are mostly vulnerable in legal and financial aspects, are informed about the projects of NGO "Zaporozhye Human Rights League "Universal" and will always be able to get qualified legal assistance.

NGO "Zaporozhye Human Rights League "Universal" receives ongoing support from the American Bar Association/Central and Eastern Europe Law Initiative (ABA/CEELI) with funding from the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID).

The main members of NGO "Zaporozhye Human Rights League "Universal" are:

1. Alexey Leonidovich Oleshko, lawyer, who in 2002 graduated from the Law Faculty of the Zaporozhye State University with "Legal Science" specialty. Since 2000 he has been the vice president of NGO "Zaporozhye Human Rights League "Universal". In 2002-2005 he was senior legal advisor in the company "Legal agency "Biznes Pravo LTD", then head of legal department of this agency, director of SC "Verdikt". Currently, he is a private practice attorney, founder and director of "Legal firm "Oleshko & Skripka".

2. Pavel Anatolyevich Skripka, a lawyer, who in 1999 graduated from the Zaporozhye Institute of Law of Ministry of Internal Affairs of Ukraine, worked as investigator at the Ministry of Internal Affairs, was deputy director of SC "Verdikt". Currently, he is private practice attorney and founder of "Legal firm "Oleshko & Skripka".

3. Andrey Mihailovich Korolkov, legal adviser of "Legal firm "Oleshko & Skripka" LLC.

4. Denis Olegovich Tarasov, lawyer, who in 2001 graduated from the Zaporozhye Institute of Law with "Legal Science" specialty, his experience in the profession is five years; he is the director of legal firm "Bizness-Tsentr Kiev" LLC. He is the president of NGO "Zaporozhye Human Rights League "Universal".