For the Commission,  “Ukrainians” include all persons, and their underage children, who regard themselves to be of Ukrainian heritage, irrespective of their country of residence or citizenship.

A principal concern of the Commission are Ukrainian communities in various countries. These include, in particular, aboriginal Ukrainian communities in countries bordering with Ukraine, Ukrainian communities in countries and regions to which Ukrainians have been deported in the past, and Ukrainian communities in countries to which Ukrainians emigrated in past centuries.

The Commission bases its work on the Universal Declaration of Human Rights of the UN, various international treaties and covenants dealing with human rights and rights of national minorities, and the laws pertaining to such rights of the countries in which Ukrainians reside. 

It cooperates with those international governmental and non-governmental organizations and institutions, as well as the media, that are concerned with human rights. The Commission's interventions are normally in the form of letters to the governmental authorities or international institutions concerned.

The Commission publishes reports, briefs, articles and other materials relevant to its activities.

The Commission on Human and Civil Rights of the Ukrainian World Congress consists of volunteers from various countries, interested and active in human and civil rights of Ukrainians throughout the world. It funds its activities entirely from donations. The current Chair of the Commission is Jurij Darewych from Toronto, Ontario, Canada.