Mariia
Ushchapivska
Mariia Ushchapivska
Deputy Head of the International and European Integration Department
Office of the Ukrainian Parliament Commissioner for Human Rights
Biography
Mariia Ushchapivskais Deputy Head of the Department of International Cooperation and European Integration. She is also Head of the Cooperation with NHRIs Unit at the Office of the Ukrainian Parliament Commissioner for Human Rights.
Organisation
Office of the Ukrainian Parliament Commissioner for Human Rights
National/Local authority
Country
Speaker session
CONNECT.REFLECT.ACT TALK
Public spaces build a relationship with the city and communities
- Shaping a socially and environmentally sustainable Europe
Forum stage / Festsaal - livestream
Functional public spaces are among the most vital components of any city. They fundamentally shape how we feel in the city. And how we feel in turn defines how we behave towards each other. Therefore, it is crucial to implement a systematic approach to redesigning and revitalizing neglected squares, streets, neighbourhoods that will create safe, inviting, and accessible spaces, where people feel good. Their active use encourages quality use of free time, community gatherings, and intergenerational engagement, fostering happiness, heightened environmental awareness, and stronger social bonds. Accessible spaces create conditions for everyone to actively contribute to community development and free use of public space without discrimination.
Moderator:
Friso Roscam Abbing
Curator Fundamental Rights Forum 2024
FRA
Matus Vallo
Mayor
City of Bratislava
Biography
Matúš Vallo is Mayor of Bratislava and former architect. He focuses on creating a strong and resilient city with a high level of transparency as a way of fighting corruption. He co-founded the Free Cities Pact together with the mayors of Warsaw, Prague and Budapest. He also leads the political party Team Bratislava.
Organisation
City of Bratislava
National/Local authority
Country
Speaker session
CONNECT.REFLECT.ACT TALK
Public spaces build a relationship with the city and communities
- Shaping a socially and environmentally sustainable Europe
Forum stage / Festsaal - livestream
Functional public spaces are among the most vital components of any city. They fundamentally shape how we feel in the city. And how we feel in turn defines how we behave towards each other. Therefore, it is crucial to implement a systematic approach to redesigning and revitalizing neglected squares, streets, neighbourhoods that will create safe, inviting, and accessible spaces, where people feel good. Their active use encourages quality use of free time, community gatherings, and intergenerational engagement, fostering happiness, heightened environmental awareness, and stronger social bonds. Accessible spaces create conditions for everyone to actively contribute to community development and free use of public space without discrimination.
Moderator:
Friso Roscam Abbing
Curator Fundamental Rights Forum 2024
FRA
Alexander Van der Bellen
Federal President, Republic of Austria
Biography
Alexander Van der Bellen (born in 1944) took office as the Federal President of the Republic of Austria on 26 January 2017.
From 1994 to 2012, Alexander Van der Bellen was a member of the Austrian National Assembly, and from 1999 to 2008 Chairman of the Greens’ Parliamentary Group. From 1997 to 2008, he served as Federal Spokesperson for the Austrian Greens.
Apart from being a politician, Van der Bellen also pursued an academic career. From 1980 to 2009, he was appointed as Full Professor of Economics at the University of Vienna, and from 1990 to 1994, Deputy Dean and then Dean of the University of Vienna School of Social and Economic Sciences.
Speaker session
CONNECT.REFLECT.ACT TALK
Public spaces build a relationship with the city and communities
- Shaping a socially and environmentally sustainable Europe
Forum stage / Festsaal - livestream
Functional public spaces are among the most vital components of any city. They fundamentally shape how we feel in the city. And how we feel in turn defines how we behave towards each other. Therefore, it is crucial to implement a systematic approach to redesigning and revitalizing neglected squares, streets, neighbourhoods that will create safe, inviting, and accessible spaces, where people feel good. Their active use encourages quality use of free time, community gatherings, and intergenerational engagement, fostering happiness, heightened environmental awareness, and stronger social bonds. Accessible spaces create conditions for everyone to actively contribute to community development and free use of public space without discrimination.
Moderator:
Friso Roscam Abbing
Curator Fundamental Rights Forum 2024
FRA