On December 10, 2024, Human Rights Day, students and faculty of the Institute of Law and Modern Technologies at KNUTD took part in the public discussion "The Holocaust and Social Responsibility: Lessons for Today", held on the grounds of the Babyn Yar National Historical and Memorial Reserve.
During the event, participants raised several important issues, including Ukraine’s policy in commemorating Holocaust victims, the establishment of national remembrance dates, and the role of archives and museums in preserving historical truth. Special attention was devoted to comparing totalitarian regimes of the 20th century with current global threats—particularly rashism as a modern form of aggressive authoritarianism.
The event became a significant educational initiative that contributed to the development of a deeper understanding among students of the relationship between history, human rights, and intergenerational political responsibility.
The discussion, launched during the Human Rights Day event, was further continued at the March meeting of the academic discussion club “Discussion”, held under the theme “Political Culture and Civil Society.” The session was dedicated to analyzing various types of political culture and the role of civil society in strengthening democratic governance. Club members discussed how historical events shape citizens’ value systems and influence political responsibility within society. Special emphasis was placed on examples of civic initiatives aimed at preserving historical memory and countering intolerance. The issues raised at the Babyn Yar event served as a foundation for further exploration of the relationship between collective memory, human rights, and the culture of democratic participation.
Dr. Natalia Fastovets, Ph.D. in Public Administration and Associate Professor at the Department of Private and Public Law, proposed conducting a scientific study focused on understanding humanism as a component of the political culture of a democratic society and as an ideological response to manifestations of totalitarianism that pose a threat to human rights. The initiative was supported by Stepan Zavorotnyi, a higher education student majoring in Political Science (Specialty 052), who conducted research under Dr. Fastovets’ supervision. His findings were published in a scholarly article entitled “The Ideology of Humanism in the Light of Human Rights: A Political Alternative to Contemporary Totalitarian Trends” in Issue No. 7 (2025) of the peer-reviewed Category B academic journal National Interests of Ukraine.
Kyiv National University of Technologies and Design continues to implement its strategy of supporting student scientific initiatives and fostering a research culture among youth, aimed at developing skills in independent analytical work, critical thinking, and a creative approach to the study of socio-political processes.
11.12.2024
