Here are several different definitions of Advocacy

Advocacy (the representation and the protection of citizens rights) – a type of activity in which citizens and civic organizations voice their concern over the violation of their rights and take active recourse to protect those rights.  Concerning advocacy, UCAN views this as the multi-faceted activity of CSOs and communities that bring about positive changes in the lives of Ukrainian citizens.  The employment of advocacy involves the public expression of problematic issues that concerns a certain group of people, recognition of their rights, the inclusion of the public, CSOs, and the mass media to influence the decision making process that affects the lives of Ukrainians.            

Advocacy – an activity aimed at including citizens, CSOs, the mass media, and state authority representatives to effectively influence government by creating binding legislative conditions for the protection of citizens’ rights and solving social problems grounded on basic human values.

Developed by Advocacy trainees administered by the Advocacy Institute on September 19, 2005 

Advocacy –civic activity directed at achieving positive changes in the life of society and the establishment of social justice through legislative change, attracting a large circle of citizens in the decision making process, and by monitoring the enactment of these decisions.                 

               Developed by Advocacy trainees administered by the Advocacy Institute on September 19, 2005 

The active participation of citizens in community life guarantees the protection of rights and forms the foundation of democracy and a market economy.   UCAN, for this reason, supports advocacy initiatives in Ukraine seeing in this an important step in strengthening civil society.

UCAN helps to create favorable conditions for developing advocacy by concentrating its efforts on strengthening civil society as an important mechanism through which citizens can play a vital role in improving their communities. UCAN also views advocacy as an effective and practical effort, which allows citizens and organizations to be heard in society and guarantees the protection of their rights.