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Home Where we are Project Co-ordinator in Ukraine What we do
OSCE Project Co-ordinator in Ukraine

What we do

The OSCE Project Co-ordinator supports Ukraine’s reforms and helps the country meet crisis-related challenges. Its projects actively contribute to major transformations, critical for the stable and democratic future of the country. The Co-ordinator's approach is multi-dimensional and covers a wide array of activities, such as constitutional reform, legal and criminal justice reform; human rights and legal education; dialogue as a tool to deal with crises and implement reforms; psychological and social rehabilitation of crisis-affected people; the fight against cybercrime and human trafficking; mine action and democratic control of the security sector; environmental protection; border security; media freedom; elections; good governance; and gender equality.
Arms control
The current crisis in and around Ukraine has led to large areas of the Donetsk and Luhansk regions being contaminated by deadly explosive remnants, including landmines. It is a serious risk to human life, and a handicap to social and economic development. Numerous explosive objects are still found in other regions across Ukraine, a legacy of the Second World War and Soviet-era military exercises and ammunition stockpiles.
Combating human trafficking
As hundreds of thousands of people have been displaced due to the crisis and Ukraine continues to suffer serious challenges, the vulnerability of Ukrainians of becoming victims of various forms of human trafficking significantly increases. The focus of the Co-ordinator’s anti-trafficking activities lies on prevention, the strengthening of prosecution of perpetrators and assistance to victims.
Conflict prevention and resolution
While multiple OSCE measures and mechanisms are enacted to help resolve crisis in and around Ukraine, the Project Co-ordinator, in line with its mandate, focuses its efforts on assisting Ukrainian stakeholders in addressing consequences and consolidating social cohesion in the country during difficult times.
Cyber/ICT security
With Ukraine seeking to reorient its economy towards information communication technologies (ICT) and e-solutions, its citizens and institutions are confronted with one of the fastest developing threats to international security in the 21st century: cybercrime. The OSCE Project Co-ordinator helps the country respond to this security challenge by building the capacity of a new cyber-police force and promoting co-operation with various agencies in handling ICT-facilitated crimes, notably regarding the trafficking of human beings.
Elections
Free and fair elections are key to public trust in state institutions and serve as a tool to ensure the responsiveness of the government to the needs of citizens. They are crucial to Ukraine’s stability, as the ongoing decentralization reform that envisages redistribution of power from the central to local level, with a purpose to break away from inefficient centralized governance to increased opportunities and responsibilities of local authorities.
Environmental activities
Working across the borders with Ukraine’s neighbours, the OSCE assists with projects to improve co-operation on adapting the Dniester basin to the challenges of climate change, and to reduce environmental risks for border guard personnel in the Chernobyl Exclusion Zone.
Gender equality
In line with UN Security Council Resolution 1325 on women, peace and security, the Co-ordinator works to ensure the pivotal role of women in crisis situations. The Project Co-ordinator helps Ukraine execute the National Action Plan for the implementation of the Resolution, developed jointly with other international partners.
Good governance
Interaction between state institutions and the public are vital for the implementation of fundamental reforms and to the sustainable development of Ukraine.
Human rights
Respect for human rights is vital in ensuring the country’s stability and enhancing the security of Ukraine’s citizens. It is also a crucial component of public trust in state institutions.
Media freedom and development
In times of crisis, it is vital to ensure a pluralistic media environment and to maintain the balance between the rights of journalists and national security considerations.
Reform and co-operation in the security sector
Civilian and parliamentary control of the security sector and respect of security agencies for human rights are key for the development of a democratic and stable Ukraine.
Policing
In 2014 Ukraine launched a comprehensive police reform to move from an old control-focused agency to a modern service-oriented institution, which is sensitized towards the needs of the community. The Co-ordinator helps to ensure the reform puts into practice the principles of democratic policing that require police to ensure transparency and accountability to all citizens, their representatives, the state and the law.
Rule of law
Ukraine continues to undergo one of its major transformations, namely the comprehensive reform of its judicial branch. The ability of Ukraine's courts to deliver fair justice and to protect the rights of citizens is a core precondition to strengthening its security and upholding democracy.