Strengthening Democratic Control of the Armed Forces of Ukraine – Phase 2

The protection of the rights of military personnel is one of the key elements of good governance in the security sector and an important aspect of the democratic control of armed forces, as well as an indispensable condition for security sector resilience. It requires a viable system that provides for the rights of personnel and ensures protection from violations and abuse. 
In the course of the war, Ukraine’s military personnel has grown to over 1 million people, and once hostilities end, an estimated 4 million people will have the status of war veterans. Ensuring the rights of military personnel will thus require significant efforts by the government and civil society, as well as the engagement of the international community. In addition, the increased number of women joining the armed forces highlights the need to accelerate the adoption of non-discrimination and equality policies and to put in place a system that ensures the prevention of sexual harassment.
 
In the course of 2022-2025, the OSCE SPU implemented a project aimed at raising awareness of the key notions of democratic control of armed forces among military leadership and civil society. The follow-up project helps to turn this knowledge into established operational procedures and practices.
 
To that end, the project organises training courses and workshops, provides expert advice, and exposes national partners to international best practices and experiences. The OSCE will also support the newly established Office of the Military Ombudsman in strategic planning, training of staff, the elaboration of relevant analytical materials, building technical capacity, and providing access to international experience. These efforts will contribute to the creation of a robust system for the protection of the rights of military personnel.