Centre for Democracy and Rule of Law (CEDEM)
Centre for Democracy and Rule of Law (CEDEM) is a Kyiv-based Ukrainian analytical-advocacy NGO founded in 2005, operating programs in Independent Media, Civil Society, and Rule of Law, and serving journalists, activists, judges, government officials, and citizens through training, advocacy campaigns, and digital resources.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2005
- HeadquartersКиїв, Київська, Ukraine
- Headcount11–50
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingServices
What Centre for Democracy and Rule of Law (CEDEM) does
Centre for Democracy and Rule of Law (CEDEM) is a Ukrainian analytical-advocacy non-governmental organization founded in 2005 (originally as the Media Law Institute, rebranded to its current name in 2016) and headquartered in Kyiv with 23 employees. The organization operates three program directions — Independent Media, Civil Society, and Rule of Law — serving journalists, civil society activists, judges, court staff, government officials, and citizens across Ukraine. CEDEM's beneficiaries include over 375 media lawyers trained through the International Summer School of Media Law since 2005 (from more than 10 countries), over 2,000 participants in 34 distance-learning courses, more than 5,000 judges profiled in the CHESNO database (with 600,000+ page views in its first three years), and nearly 1 million Ukrainians reached by an information-resilience campaign during the war.
CEDEM's core products combine educational programs, digital data assets, advocacy campaigns, and legal services. Educational products include the annual International Summer School of Media Law and certified distance-learning courses delivered through the Prometeus platform (developed with the Office of the Verkhovna Rada Commissioner for Human Rights). Digital resources include the CHESNO Judge Profiles Database, which aggregates judicial declarations, family connections, court decisions, and integrity assessments, and a digital Library of research publications. Advocacy campaigns include the "Safe Roads" and "Crumpled but Alive" road-safety campaigns (the latter reaching 11M+ contacts), Telegram Detox, and media-literacy initiatives including an AI-in-Media Guide for editorial teams. CEDEM also provides legal support for access-to-information cases, including representation before the European Court of Human Rights (yielding a landmark Article 10 ruling in October 2023 after more than 10 years of litigation). Underlying technology is primarily web-based: online education platforms, a searchable judicial database, digital advocacy tools, and online resource libraries.
CEDEM's business model is non-commercial. The organization is funded through institutional grants from international donors (Sweden is identified as a core institutional supporter, alongside the Council of Europe, International Renaissance Foundation, IREX Europe, and International Media Support), project-specific grants, and donations accepted via its website. All services — training, consultations, and digital resources — are provided free of charge to beneficiaries. Revenue is not publicly disclosed. Go-to-market is community-led and event-driven, combining advocacy campaigns, in-person and online training, workshops, the annual Summer School, and distance learning delivered through Prometeus. CEDEM does not have a parent company, is not publicly traded, and operates as an independent Ukrainian NGO.
Centre for Democracy and Rule of Law (CEDEM) firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Centre for Democracy and Rule of Law (CEDEM)
- Legal name
- Centre for Democracy and Rule of Law
- Website
- https://cedem.org.ua
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2005
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 11–50 employees
- Short description
- Centre for Democracy and Rule of Law (CEDEM) is a Kyiv-based Ukrainian analytical-advocacy NGO founded in 2005, operating programs in Independent Media, Civil Society, and Rule of Law, and serving journalists, activists, judges, government officials, and citizens through training, advocacy campaigns, and digital resources.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Centre for Democracy and Rule of Law (CEDEM) industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Civil Society Advocacy and Media Law Services
- NAICS
- Offices of Lawyers (54111)
- SIC
- Services-Legal Services (8111), Services-Educational Services (8200)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Legal & Compliance (CLE, Paralegal CE) (EDAAALAB)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Legal, Governance, Privacy & Audit Certifications (EDAAANAN), Legal & Governance Professional Development (EDAGANAK)
Keywords
Where Centre for Democracy and Rule of Law (CEDEM) is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Київ, Київська
- HQ country
- Ukraine
- HQ region
- Europe
Offices1 record
Markets served
Centre for Democracy and Rule of Law (CEDEM) business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Others
Revenue model
- Institutional/Grant Funding: Primary funding from international donors and institutional supporters. The organization states that institutional support is provided by Sweden.
- Donations: The organization accepts donations through its website to support ongoing programs and campaigns.
Go-to-market motion3 records
Distribution channels5 records
Marketing channels10 records
Centre for Democracy and Rule of Law (CEDEM) product offering
Product offeringCore offering
CEDEM is an analytical-advocacy NGO that delivers media law training programs (International Summer School of Media Law and distance learning courses), operates the CHESNO judicial accountability database with 5,000+ judge profiles, provides legal support and representation for access to information cases (including ECHR litigation), conducts advocacy campaigns (such as the Safe Roads campaign), and publishes research and analytical materials on media freedom, disinformation, AI regulation, and rule of law in Ukraine. Services are provided free of charge to beneficiaries and funded through international grants and donations.
Product overview
Centre for Democracy and Rule of Law (CEDEM) is an analytical-advocacy NGO established in 2005 (formerly the Media Law Institute until 2016) that operates programs in three main directions: Independent Media, Civil Society, and Rule of Law. The organization's offerings consist primarily of educational programs (International Summer School of Media Law, Distance Learning Courses on Prometeus platform), digital resources (CHESNO Judge Profiles Database with 5,000+ judge profiles), research publications (Library with 38 pages of materials), and advocacy campaigns (Safe Roads campaign, information resilience campaigns). CEDEM also provides legal consultations and support for access to information cases, including ECHR representation. The organization does not offer a commercial software product but delivers public-good services focused on democracy building, media freedom, and rule of law in Ukraine.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Brands
- Чесно. Фільтруй суд! (Chesno. Filter the Court!): Judicial integrity campaign with online database of judge profiles containing declarations, family connections, court decisions, and integrity assessments
- Кампанія «За безпечні дороги» (Campaign For Safe Roads)
- Міжнародна літня школа медійного права (International Summer School of Media Law)
Products and services
- International Summer School of Media Law
- Distance Learning Courses
- CHESNO Judge Profiles Database
- Legal Support for Access to Information Cases
- Media Literacy Programs
- Library (Research Publications)
Quantifiable outcome
- ECHR ruling in favor of journalist after 10+ years of legal support
- +2 more outcomes
Companies that use Centre for Democracy and Rule of Law (CEDEM)
Customer profileNamed customers4 records
Segments5 records
Ideal customer profiles5 records
Centre for Democracy and Rule of Law (CEDEM) technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Integration2 records
Feature2 records
Centre for Democracy and Rule of Law (CEDEM) partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Twelve partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.
- Ministry of Culture and Strategic Communications of UkrainecorePartnership to conduct online training 'Open Data During War: Between Security and Transparency 2024' for government servants.
- UNDP UkrainecoreExpert from UNDP Ukraine on access to information served as lecturer at CEDEM training for judges.
- FacebookcoreCEDEM became a trusted partner of Facebook in Ukraine in February 2019. The partnership involves collaboration on content moderation and addressing issues related to blocking content and users in Ukraine, as well as regional content peculiarities in the Ukrainian segment of the social network. CEDEM lawyers participate in Facebook's Global Advisory Council charter development.
- Kyiv City State AdministrationminorAllowed placement of 50 citylight billboards in Kyiv streets and Kyiv Metro for 5 months to promote seat belt usage awareness.
- Council of Europe (through Office of the Verkhovna Rada Commissioner for Human Rights)corePartnership to develop three online courses on access to information based on the Prometeus educational platform, in cooperation with the Office of the Verkhovna Rada Commissioner for Human Rights.
- Vision Zero NGOcorePartnership within the 'Safe Roads' campaign to reduce road deaths and injuries in Ukraine. Joint research conducted on seat belt usage among drivers in Ukrainian cities.
- Association of Cyclists of KyivminorPartner in the 'Safe Roads' campaign alongside CEDEM, Vision Zero, and Driving Academy.
- Driving AcademyminorPartner in the 'Safe Roads' campaign alongside CEDEM, Vision Zero, and Association of Cyclists of Kyiv.
- Council of EuropecoreLong-standing partner supporting CEDEM programs including the International Summer School of Media Law and distance learning course development. The Council of Europe Office in Ukraine has provided institutional support and expertise.
- International Media Support (MGO)minorSupported the International Summer School of Media Law in various years.
- Internews NetworkminorSupported the International Summer School of Media Law in various years.
- IREX EuropeminorSupported the International Summer School of Media Law.
Scale indicators9 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights6 records
Centre for Democracy and Rule of Law (CEDEM) competitors and assessment
Company assessmentBroad incumbents
- Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ): US-based press-freedom advocacy organization operating globally with crisis response, research, and advocacy; overlaps with CEDEM's media-direction work but at much larger scale and broader geographic remit.
- ARTICLE 19: Global freedom-of-expression organization litigating and advocating on media law globally; CEDEM's media-law CLE and ECHR work is a regional subset of ARTICLE 19's mission, making it a broad incumbent operating in CEDEM's niche.
Direct peers
- European Center for Not-for-Profit Law (ECNL): Stichting-based organization supporting civil society enabling laws and FOI across Europe and Central Asia; shares CEDEM's rule-of-law and civic-space analytical-advocacy model and donor ecosystem.
- International Media Support (IMS): Denmark-based international NGO funding and implementing media freedom and journalist-safety programs globally; an existing CEDEM partner and directly comparable in scope and donor mix.
- International Renaissance Foundation: Ukraine-focused philanthropic foundation of George Soros's Open Society network supporting civil society, rule of law, and independent media; an existing CEDEM program funder with directly comparable mission and Ukrainian operational footprint.
- Access Info Europe: Madrid-based NGO specializing in access to official documents and government transparency; CEDEM Vice President Tetiana Oleksiyuk represents Ukraine in Access Info's Council of Europe specialist group, indicating close mission overlap.
- Internews Ukraine: Local affiliate of Internews Network supporting independent media and media literacy in Ukraine; shares CEDEM's journalist training, disinformation counter-work, and donor base (including International Media Support).
- Center for Civil Liberties (Ukraine): Ukrainian human-rights NGO and 2022 Nobel Peace Prize co-laureate focused on rule of law, war crimes documentation, and civic advocacy; the closest Ukrainian counterpart to CEDEM in mission, geographic focus, and donor profile.
- Transparency International Ukraine: Ukrainian chapter of the global anti-corruption NGO; conducts strategic litigation, advocacy campaigns, and analytical research on rule-of-law issues comparable to CEDEM's judicial transparency and access-to-information work.
Others
- Reporters Without Borders (RSF): Paris-based global press-freedom NGO with advocacy, monitoring, and litigation programs; serves similar Ukrainian journalist and media-lawyer audience as CEDEM but as part of a broader global portfolio.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat5 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
Centre for Democracy and Rule of Law (CEDEM) social profiles
Digital presenceCentre for Democracy and Rule of Law (CEDEM) financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Centre for Democracy and Rule of Law (CEDEM) leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles7 records
Centre for Democracy and Rule of Law (CEDEM) funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Centre for Democracy and Rule of Law (CEDEM) M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Centre for Democracy and Rule of Law (CEDEM)
What does Centre for Democracy and Rule of Law (CEDEM) do?
CEDEM is an analytical-advocacy NGO that delivers media law training programs (International Summer School of Media Law and distance learning courses), operates the CHESNO judicial accountability database with 5,000+ judge profiles, provides legal support and representation for access to information cases (including ECHR litigation), conducts advocacy campaigns (such as the Safe Roads campaign), and publishes research and analytical materials on media freedom, disinformation, AI regulation, and rule of law in Ukraine. Services are provided free of charge to beneficiaries and funded through international grants and donations.
Is Centre for Democracy and Rule of Law (CEDEM) a public or private company?
Centre for Democracy and Rule of Law (CEDEM) is a private company. It is classified as nonprofit foundation owned and is currently operating.
When was Centre for Democracy and Rule of Law (CEDEM) founded?
Centre for Democracy and Rule of Law (CEDEM) was founded in 2005. It employs 11 to 50 people.
Where is Centre for Democracy and Rule of Law (CEDEM) based?
Centre for Democracy and Rule of Law (CEDEM) is headquartered in Київ, Київська, Ukraine, in the Europe region.
How does Centre for Democracy and Rule of Law (CEDEM) make money?
Two revenue lines are on record. Institutional/Grant Funding is the primary driver. The others are donations.
Who are Centre for Democracy and Rule of Law (CEDEM)'s main competitors?
Broad incumbents on record are Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ) and ARTICLE 19. Direct peers are European Center for Not-for-Profit Law (ECNL), International Media Support (IMS), International Renaissance Foundation, Access Info Europe, Internews Ukraine, Center for Civil Liberties (Ukraine) and Transparency International Ukraine. Reporters Without Borders (RSF) is listed as an others.
Does Centre for Democracy and Rule of Law (CEDEM) have an API?
No public API is recorded for Centre for Democracy and Rule of Law (CEDEM).
What industry is Centre for Democracy and Rule of Law (CEDEM) in?
Centre for Democracy and Rule of Law (CEDEM)'s product category is Civil Society Advocacy and Media Law Services. Its primary akta.pro industry code is EDAAALAB, Legal & Compliance (CLE, Paralegal CE), with a secondary code of EDAAANAN, Legal, Governance, Privacy & Audit Certifications. Its NAICS code is 54111 and its SIC code is 8111.