OSCE/ODIHR delivers training on human rights compliant policing of assemblies to Ukrainian police

International human rights standards, the key principles of assembly policing, the planning and decision making model, communication and accountability were the focus of a three-day training event organized by the OSCE Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights (ODIHR) in co-operation with the European Union Advisory Mission to Uraine (EUAM) between 29 and 31 August 2016 in Kyiv.

The course brought together 23 representatives from the the Preventive Activities Department, Human Rights Directorate, the Special Regiments and the Patrol Police of the National Police of Ukraine, as well as representatives of the National Guard. The interactive workshop drew on real life examples and gave participants the oportunity to discuss the challenges they face in their day-to-day policing work in Ukraine.

“This is an invaluable opportunity for representatives of the security sector to gain a better understanding of how to faciliate and protect assemblies while complying with international human rights standards, including OSCE human dimension commitments,” said Fabian Loewenberg, Head of the Rule of Law component in the EUAM. “EUAM is happy to support the law enforcement bodies of Ukraine in their express commitments made in this area, such as in the National Human Rights Action Plan,” he added. 

Omer Fisher, Deputy Head of the ODIHR Human Rights Department, said: “Human rights compliance is not only a legal obligation, but also a way to make police work more effective. ODIHR’s training curriculum on the policing of assemblies is one among many practical tools developed by ODIHR to support law enforcement agencies in carrying out their activities.”

The workshop was attended by participants from the Kiev, Odessa and Kherson regions. Similar training is planned to take place in mid-October for  law enforcement officials from the Kiev, Vinnitsa, Zhytomyr, Chernigiv, Kirovohrad, Poltava, Sumy, Lviv and Kharkiv regions.