OSCE Project Co-ordinator provides platform for exploring different police education models in Ukraine

Ways to reform the Ukrainian police education system were explored during a two-day conference in Kyiv organized by the OSCE Project Co-ordinator in Ukraine in co-operation with Ukraine’s Interior Ministry and the Ukrainian National Police on 11-12 December 2017.

The conference brought together more than 100 participants including governmental officials, police officers and representatives of police education institutions in Ukraine. Also participating in the event were representatives of international organizations and experts from nine OSCE participating states, who presented the education models used in their own countries, and highlighted best practices and tools.

“The OSCE Project Co-ordinator in Ukraine stands ready to further support police reform in Ukraine to strengthen the role of police education in sustaining police adherence to the rule of law and community safety,” said Ambassador Vaidotas Verba, OSCE Project Co-ordinator in Ukraine.

The research outcomes from a study undertaken by the OSCE Project Co-ordinator in Ukraine on best practices and models for police education in OSCE participating States were presented at the conference.

Participants later focused on compiling recommendations on different aspects of police education such as career development, basic curriculum design, assessment systems and continuous training. These will be included in a final research paper and further disseminated among national and international stakeholders involved in supporting police reform in Ukraine.

“The model of police education in Ukraine will be finalized by the end of the year,” said Oleksiy Takhtay, State Secretary of the Ministry of Internal Affairs of Ukraine.

The conference and research builds on the continuing efforts of the OSCE Project Co-ordinator in Ukraine to support police reform in the country, in particular in providing newly established and reformed police units with enhanced skills in serving their communities and responding to cybercrime, gender-based violence and human trafficking.

The conference is part of the OSCE Project Co-ordinator’s project on assisting the Ukrainian Police in institutionalizing improvements in training.