Chapter 1. Observing social rights OBSERVING SOCIAL RIGHTS In 2019, the reform of local self-government and territorial organization of government continued in Ukraine. The process of forming the amalgamated territorial communities brought about the issue of the ability of local self-government bodies to ensure the observance, realization and protection of rights of citizens to social protection, healthcare, work, education and culture. Therefore, one of the strategic directions of the Commissioner’s activity was to exercise parliamentary oversight over the observance of social rights of citizens in the context of decentralization. As a result of consideration of more than 5,136 reports from citizens to the Commissioner and 66 monitoring visits to local authorities, amalgamated territorial communities, state administrations, departments of labour and social protection, departments on social protection, territorial centres of social services (providers of social services), health care institutions, education and culture facilities revealed a number of systemic violations of social rights of citizens. In particular, the violations of the right to healthcare, especially in rural areas was were identified – specifically, healthcare facilities are not adequately staffed with medical personnel. At the same time, financial needs of healthcare institutions far exceed the amount of medical subvention from the State Budget. The decentralization reform has exacerbated the problem of exercising the right to cultural services and access to quality education due to the low level of local governments’ investment in the development of education and culture. During 2019, there was a trend towards an increase in wage arrears, thus violating the right of citizens to receive timely remuneration for work. In addition, the insured persons did not receive in time payments in connection with the temporary disability, pregnancy and childbirth at the expense of the Social Insurance Fund of Ukraine. The Commissioner’s monitoring proves that the court decisions, including the decisions of the Constitutional Court of Ukraine, the ECtHR (e.g., in the case Burmych et al. v. Ukraine) aimed at restoring the right to social protection of citizens, in particular persons affected by Chornobyl disaster, have not been implemented for a long time. Thus, the results of the parliamentary oversight by the Commissioner showed that there were systemic violations of social human rights that needed urgent comprehensive solution. 2019 5,136 reports of citizens 66 monitoring visits CHAPTER 1 19