Through the Army app, servicemen will tell their ombudsman what kind of help they need
31 December 2024 15:35
A survey has been launched in the Army app to allow servicemen to express their opinion on the establishment of a military ombudsman institution. This was reported by the Ministry of Defense, according to
The new anonymous survey contains 12 questions. By answering them, servicemen will be able to identify the main needs of the military in terms of protection of rights and social guarantees, offer their ideas on the functions and mechanisms of the ombudsman, and report violations of their rights that they have encountered during their service.
“The Ministry of Defense of Ukraine together with the military command are introducing a new institution of military ombudsman. To make its work as effective as possible and in the interests of servicemen, we will collect the opinions of the military through the Army,” emphasized Minister of Defense of Ukraine Rustem Umerov.
The survey started on December 30 and will last for two weeks. The results will be used as a basis for the work of the newly created military ombudsman institution.
The day before, the President signed a decree appointing Olga Reshetylova (Kobylynska) as the Presidential Commissioner for the Protection of the Rights of Servicemen and Their Families.
“Olga is a well-known, experienced and effective Ukrainian human rights activist. She has already done a lot to build our state institutions and support Ukrainians,” Volodymyr Zelenskyy said, introducing the Commissioner for the Protection of the Rights of Servicemen and Their Families.
He also outlined the main task for the new institution: together with the Ministry of Defense of Ukraine, together with civil society, to prepare a draft law on the military ombudsman and all the necessary systemic foundations for the work of this institution.
What is the status of the draft law on the military ombudsman?
In mid-November, the then coordinator of the Media Initiative for Human Rights, Olha Reshetylova , reported that a team had been working on drafting a bill on the military ombudsman for several months on the basis of the Ministry of Defense, in particular the Central Department for the Protection of Servicemen’s Rights. This was reported by
Olha Reshetylova suggested that the document could be submitted for expert and public discussion starting in the new year. And then the draft law will have a difficult path until it is voted by the Verkhovna Rada and signed by the President.
