Concept on democratic control of Ukrainian armed forces discussed at OSCE event in Kyiv

KYIV, 31 October 2016 – A first draft Concept on Democratic Control of the Ukrainian Armed Forces was tabled for public discussion at an international workshop organized by the OSCE Project Co-ordinator in Ukraine jointly with the country’s Defence Ministry and Verkhovna Rada (Parliament) today in Kyiv.

The event gathered over 100 parliamentarians, officials from security and defence institutions, international experts and civil society to discuss ways of enhancing parliamentary and civic oversight over the military.    

Participants discussed the draft concept which will lay the grounds for developing the legal framework on enhancing tools for such control in Ukraine. The document was developed by the Reforms Project Office of Ukraine’s Defence Ministry, an institution introduced to support the efficient and democratic transformation of the military sector. It was drafted in line with the international experience and best practices presented by the OSCE Project Co-ordinator.

“The development of democratic control over the Armed Forces is one of the reform priorities the Defence Ministry is pursuing,” said Igor Dolgov, Deputy Defence Minister for European Integration Issues. “It is also a demand coming from the Ukrainian society, that wants the Army to be transparent and abiding by the will of people, rather than a political tool.”

Vaidotas Verba, OSCE Project Co-ordinator in Ukraine said: “The Project Co-ordinator’s role is to equip our Ukrainian partners with the knowledge of how democratic control works in other OSCE participating States, so that they are able to choose what will work in the interest of the country.”

Verba also noted that the established practice of the parliament and civil society providing the oversight of the armed forces is in line with the need to protect human rights.  

The event also provided an opportunity to present the OSCE-supported web-resource Civilian.Defence-Reforms.in.ua to the wider public. This resource will be a reference guide for the international best practices in this area, as well as an information resource on developments in the democratic control of the Ukrainian armed forces.