HISTORY

The Ukrainian World Congress (UWC) is an international non-profit organization representing the interests of tens of millions of Ukrainians around the world. Established in 1967, the UWC serves as the global voice of Ukrainian communities and connects Ukrainians across countries, continents, and generations.

The history of the Ukrainian World Congress began in New York, where the first World Congress of Free Ukrainians was held from November 12 to 19, 1967. The founding congress brought together more than 1,000 delegates from over 30 countries. At a time when Ukraine was under Soviet rule, the new organization aimed to unite the Ukrainian diaspora around the struggle for Ukraine’s independence.

For decades, the World Congress of Free Ukrainians defended the rights of Ukrainians, preserved Ukrainian national identity, promoted awareness of Ukraine’s history and culture, Holodomor and Chornobyl, and ensured that the Ukrainian cause remained visible internationally. Through its member organizations, the Congress became a powerful network connecting established diaspora communities and successive generations of Ukrainians worldwide.

Following the restoration of Ukraine’s independence in 1991, the organization entered a new chapter. At its Sixth Congress in 1993, the word “Free” was removed from its official name, reflecting Ukraine’s historic transformation into an independent state. The organization became known as the Ukrainian World Congress.

Today, the Ukrainian World Congress operates as a global network of Ukrainian communities and organizations. It holds special consultative status with the United Nations Economic and Social Council and participatory status as an international non-governmental organization with the Council of Europe. These international roles strengthen the UWC’s ability to advocate for Ukraine and represent the global Ukrainian community.

The UWC focuses on three key priorities:

Securing Ukraine’s Victory: The UWC drives global advocacy for sustained military and humanitarian aid, the transfer of frozen Russian assets to fund Ukraine’s reconstruction, and the establishment of an international tribunal to hold Russia’s leadership accountable for the crime of aggression.

Supporting Ukraine’s Post-War Recovery: The UWC mobilizes diaspora networks, foreign investment, and international cooperation to rebuild Ukraine as a modern, democratic, prosperous European state.

Strengthening the Global Ukrainian Community: The UWC unites millions of Ukrainians across more than 80 countries, preserves Ukrainian cultural heritage, promotes the Ukrainian language, and works to ensure that Ukrainians living abroad can participate in Ukraine’s future democratic and electoral processes.

More than half a century after its founding, the Ukrainian World Congress continues to unite Ukrainians globally and mobilize international support for a free, democratic, and prosperous Ukraine.