United Nations Human Rights Monitoring Mission in Ukraine

Project completed

The protracted conflict in eastern Ukraine and its devastating effect on the civilian population requires a continued comprehensive international human rights monitoring and engagement with relevant actors. The presence and impartial work of the United Nations Human Rights Monitoring Mission helps to identify human rights gaps and concerns in Ukraine with a special focus on the east and Crimea. The mission formulates specific recommendations for shaping state policies and international assistance programs.

Country/region Topic Period Budget
Ukraine
Human rights
Conflict & fragility
nothemedefined
Human rights (incl. Women's rights)
Conflict prevention
01.01.2019 - 31.12.2020
CHF  1’000’000
Background Ukraine remains a country affected by armed conflict, with millions of people in need of protection. Human rights in the east and Crimea, but also in other parts of the country are not or only partially observed. Although Ukraine has made progress on issues pertaining to political pluralism and government transparency, important human rights shortcomings remain, for instance with regard to freedom of the press. The United Nations Human Rights Monitoring Mission in Ukraine (HRMMU) remains the only international human rights monitoring mechanism operating in the country to systematically observe and assess human rights violations. While HRMMU is fully operational in government-controlled territory, it faced increased restrictions in its operations in armed group-controlled territory of the self-proclaimed ‘Donetsk people’s republic’ and self-proclaimed ‘Luhansk people’s republic’. HRMMU continues to monitor remotely the human rights situation in Crimea.
Objectives To contribute to enhancing respect for human rights in the current conflict in Ukraine.
Target groups

The HRMMU targets in particular Ukrainian law enforcement agencies, the Ombudsperson’s Office, as well as Human Rights NGOs, other
civil society organizations rendering all sorts of assistance to people affected by the conflict, and international actors engaged in human rights
work and humanitarian assistance in Ukraine.

The final beneficiaries of the Mission’s human rights monitoring are those individuals, families and communities in Ukraine whose rights have been affected by the armed conflict, and each citizen facing a violation of his/her human rights. They shall benefit from a more effective coordination of protection responses and protection mainstreaming in humanitarian responses.

Medium-term outcomes 1) Ukrainian stakeholders and the international community have increased awareness of human rights violations, allowing them to take appropriate action.
2) Local stakeholders have enhanced capacities to respond to human rights violations.
Results

Expected results:  

  • The Government of Ukraine and non-state actors are better informed of human rights issues, in particular in conflict-affected areas in the east and in Crimea, to appropriately address the issues of concern and respond to individual cases and patterns identified by HRMMU.

  • Human rights concerns arising from the situation in the east are reflected in the plans, programs and/or activities of the UN agencies.

  • Human rights issues and findings raised by HRMMU are taken up by international fora in a timely and effective manner.

  • Government of Ukraine and civil society have a better understanding of accountability mechanisms and conduct  effective investigations of most egregious human rights violations (such as torture) and all forms of conflict-related sexual violence;

The Government benefits from human rights recommendations and tools to implement effectively the national human rights action plan (NHRAP) that also includes key priorities on women, peace, and security issues.


Results from previous phases:   So far, the HRMMU has identified and documented human rights concerns throughout the country, with a particular focus on the areas affected by the conflict and on Crimea. It has produced numerous reports for various audiences and helped shaping the international humanitarian response to the crisis in the East .The provision of legal advice and referral of cases has directly contributed to protection results, by ensuring the release of arbitrarily detained individuals. HRMMU also assisted in the drafting of the Human Rights Strategy of Ukraine adopted in 2015


Directorate/federal office responsible SDC
Credit area Swiss cooperation with Eastern Europe
Project partners Contract partner
United Nations Organization (UNO)
  • UNHCHR


Other partners
United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR)
Coordination with other projects and actors The HRMMU coordinates in particular with the ICRC, the Council of Europe, the OSCE Special Monitoring Mission as well as some bilateral donors (UK, Germany, EU, Sweden, USA and CH), non-governmental organizations and international organizations. 
Budget Current phase Swiss budget CHF    1’000’000 Swiss disbursement to date CHF    975’000
Project phases Phase 3 01.01.2021 - 31.12.2024   (Current phase)

Phase 2 01.01.2019 - 31.12.2020   (Completed)

Phase 1 01.09.2016 - 31.12.2018   (Completed)