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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 address its crisis-related challenges. Projects actively contribute to the stable and democratic future of the country. The Co-ordinator's approach is multi-dimensional and covers a wide range of activities, such as constitutional reform; legal and criminal justice reform; human rights and legal education; dialogue as a tool to strengthen social cohesion 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; border security; environmental protection, chemical and biological security; elections; media freedom and civil society development; 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. These pose a serious risk to human life, and are obstacles 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 face serious challenges, the vulnerability of Ukrainians becoming victims of various forms of human trafficking remains high. The focus of the Co-ordinator’s anti-trafficking activities lies in prevention, the strengthening of prosecution of perpetrators and assistance to victims.
Conflict prevention and resolution
While multiple OSCE measures and mechanisms have been enacted to address the crisis in and around Ukraine, the Project Co-ordinator, in line with its mandate, focuses its efforts on assisting Ukrainian stakeholders in addressing the 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 enhancing awareness of Ukrainians about safety rules in digital space, building the capacity of a new cyber-police force and promoting co-operation between 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, in view of the ongoing decentralization reform that envisages the redistribution of power from the central to local levels to increase opportunities for and responsibilities of local authorities.
Environmental activities
Hostilities in eastern Ukraine have been harmful to the region’s environment. The crisis also brings a significant increase in the risk of incidents at industrial and infrastructure facilities. Following an assessment of conflict-related environmental risks, the Co-ordinator focuses its efforts on establishing a system of monitoring that would enable the government and citizens to better understand the risks and prepare adequate response measures, and in promoting policies for the sustainable use of resources, especially in water management.
Gender equality
In line with UN Security Council Resolution 1325 on Women, Peace and Security, the Co-ordinator strengthens 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
Co-operation between state institutions and the public are vital for the implementation of fundamental reforms and to the sustainable development of Ukraine. The Co-ordinator contributes to increasing the role of civil society organizations in decision-making process, including through public consultations, and provides support to initiatives that strengthen the sustainability of civil society organizations.
Human rights
Respect for human rights is a crucial component of public trust in state institutions. The Co-ordinator works with the security sector and law enforcement agencies to help them implement human rights-based approaches, assists parliamentarians draft laws that safeguard individual freedoms, and supports law enforcement reform both by participating in developing and implementing its strategy.
Media freedom and development
In times of crisis, it is vital to ensure a pluralistic media environment with journalists able to provide accurate, balanced and independent coverage of events to the public.
Reform and co-operation in the security sector
Democratic control of the security sector and security agencies that respect human rights are key to the development of Ukraine. The Project Co-ordinator assists the country in raising awareness of, and introducing international best practices in this sphere. These efforts include the development of legal instruments, training courses, awareness-raising seminars and roundtable meetings with the involvement of civil society, as well as the promotion of co-operation of security agencies with relevant institutions of other countries and international think tanks.
Policing
Ukraine’s law enforcement system is in the process of transformation from an old control-focused policing 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 law enforcers to pursue transparency and accountability to all citizens, their representatives, the state and the law.
Rule of law
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. The Co-ordinator supports comprehensive reform of the judiciary by participating in developing and implementing its strategy; providing expert support and enabling inclusive participation of stakeholders in discussions over the substance of the changes. The Co-ordinator also helps Ukraine’s parliamentarians draft laws that safeguard individual freedoms, by offering training courses, developing methodologies and providing expert opinions.