On September 9, 2025, the Department of Political Science and Law of Ushynsky University hosted a guest lecture by a practicing professional on the topic “Observance of human rights during martial law: challenges and protection mechanisms”. The lecturer was Maria Popova, territorial representative of the Commissioner of the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine for Human Rights in Odesa region.

The organizers and moderators of the event were: Svitlana Naumkina, head of the Department of Political Science and Law, guarantor of the educational program “Political Science” of the first (bachelor's) level of higher education, and Inna Pronoza, associate professor of the Department of Political Science and Law, guarantor of the master's program “Political Science. Ukrainian and European Political Studies”.

The lecture was attended by students of all levels of education: bachelors, masters and postgraduate students majoring in C2 “Political Science”. This format allowed to unite the student community and created a discussion platform for discussing current issues in the field of human rights.

Among the issues discussed during the lecture were: the implementation and protection of human rights under martial law; opportunities and limitations in the field of legal protection of citizens; mechanisms for responding to cases of human rights violations; the activities of the Ombudsman institution at the regional level.

Current challenges facing society in crisis conditions and ways to overcome them.

The event is part of the program of guest lectures by practicing specialists, which is implemented at the Department of Political Science and Law. Such meetings contribute to the formation of key competencies in students, combine theoretical training with real practices of human rights protection and help young scientists and future political scientists to better understand the specifics of legal and political processes during martial law.

An important reference point for students was the understanding of the possibilities of continuing practical training within the walls of the office of the territorial representative of the Ombudsman or in other institutions engaged in the protection of human rights. This opens up new prospects for the professional development of students and consolidation of acquired knowledge in practical activities.