The Armed Forces are improving mechanisms for maintaining military discipline and preventing discrimination and sexual harassment, and victims will receive additional safety guarantees.
This was reported on the Ministry of Defense’s website, according to Ukrinform.
“The Ukrainian Armed Forces are improving mechanisms to ensure military discipline, as well as to prevent and combat discrimination and sexual harassment. In particular, victims will receive additional guarantees of protection from the perpetrator,” the statement reads.
As noted, the changes are provided for by a law of Ukraine signed by President Volodymyr Zelensky and have been incorporated into the Disciplinary Statute of the Armed Forces of Ukraine and the Statute of Internal Service of the Armed Forces of Ukraine with the participation of specialists from the Ministry of Defense and experts from the United Kingdom.
“The new regulations require the military to comply with legislation regarding equal rights and opportunities for women and men,” the Ministry of Defense explains.
In particular, military personnel are required to prevent discrimination based on gender, race, religion, ethnic origin, or social status and to deter others from engaging in inappropriate behavior, while commanders must take measures to prevent incidents of harassment and respond to them immediately.
Separate provisions address the prevention of sexual harassment, gender-based violence, and offenses against sexual freedom and integrity.
Thus, these issues are explicitly incorporated into the system of military discipline. Commanders (superiors) are required to take measures to prevent such incidents and respond to them immediately.
In addition, the law also provides for additional mechanisms to ensure the safety of the victim. In particular, during the period of the official investigation until a final decision is made, measures may be applied aimed at:
- preventing contact between the victim and the perpetrator;
- preventing potential pressure, influence, or re-traumatization;
- ensuring safe conditions for military service.
This involves implementing an approach that prioritizes the protection of the victim’s rights, safety, and dignity and aligns with modern standards in the security and defense sector.
The Ministry of Defense emphasizes that this is an important step toward creating a safe, fair, and professional environment within the Ukrainian Defense Forces, where respect for human dignity is an integral part of military service.
As reported by Ukrinform, on March 16, Zelensky signed a law on combating discrimination and sexual harassment in the military.
Photo: Ministry of Defense
