Yana Lys

Human rights defender
Project coordinator

I am a historian by profession. In 2004 I completed my master’s degree at Lesya Ukrainka Volyn National University. For years I researched the dissident human rights movement in Ukraine of the 1960s–1980s and even published a book on the subject, “The Word Beyond Censorship”. I worked as a leading research fellow and headed the modern history department at the Volyn Regional Museum.

Human rights defence is in my blood: my parents took part in the anti-Soviet protest movement of the Perestroika era and were among the first independent journalists at the turn of the 1980s–1990s. My mother led the Prosvita NGO in Volyn, stood at the origins of the local women’s movement and researched its forgotten history.

I loved history since childhood, and the Orange Revolution and Euromaidan, where I joined the protests, finally shaped my desire to move from the theory of human rights to real action. From 2016 I began actively taking part in feminist and LGBTI+ actions and marches, and started coming out at the same time.

Insight captivated me with its consistent human rights struggle in both of these fields. From 2016 I volunteered for the organisation; in 2019, together with my colleague Elizabeth, I founded and led Insight’s branch in Lutsk, and since 2024 I have been the regional development coordinator of the whole organisation.

What fuels me:

I am driven by living communication and creating a safe space for future generations. My energy is:

Public speaking and sincere interaction with the audience.
Organising human rights and cultural events.
Queer youth — their courage, burning eyes and the drive to change the world.

Blitz interview:

What do you do when you are not saving human rights?
I once played chess semi-professionally and was even the champion of Volyn region in the overall standings. I left big sport for lack of sponsorship, but I still play online for fun and follow international tournaments. For 25 years now I have been practising and teaching yoga and meditation — it is my main grounding ritual. And I really love cats.

One sentence about yourself that is not a job title:
I am a phoenix, eternally rising from the ashes.

Three words that describe you:
Veni, vidi, vici 🙂

A queer watch you recommend?
Laurence Anyways. This film is about how you can always begin the path to your true self, and that under no circumstances should you give up.