Specialists from the Office of the Ukrainian Parliament Commissioner for Human Rights (Ombudsperson) have strengthened their capacity to monitor the protection of veterans' rights, following the fourth week-long visit supported by the Council of Europe Project "Rights of Veterans and Personnel of the Armed Forces in Ukraine” (hereinafter – the Project).
During the visit to the Khmelnytskyi region, the Ombudsperson’s Office team successfully applied and tested a monitoring methodology developed earlier by the Project to improve their practical skills in identifying human rights violations, evaluating local services, and engaging directly with veterans and military personnel.
Taking further the activities of the previous monitoring missions focused mainly on developing the methodology (in Chernivtsi, Lviv, and Zakarpattia regions), this visit piloted a new, more inclusive approach: the monitoring team began by consulting directly with veterans and civil society organisations. Their insights shaped the agenda for meetings with government and service institutions, making discussions more targeted and solution oriented. This approach led to a more accurate identification of gaps in policy implementation and service provision.
Over the course of the week, specialists conducted detailed assessments at local councils, military administrations, civilian and military hospitals, veteran hubs, and social service centres. They evaluated how veterans’ rights are being upheld, the accessibility and effectiveness of support services, and the quality of communication between institutions and the veteran community.
By developing and field-testing the methodology with the Project’s support, the Ombudsperson’s Office is now better equipped to conduct consistent, high-quality monitoring across Ukraine, contributing to stronger protection of veterans’ rights.
The visit was organized within the framework of the Council of Europe Project "Rights of Veterans and Personnel of the Armed Forces in Ukraine", which is part of the Council of Europe Action Plan for Ukraine "Resilience, Recovery, and Reconstruction" (2023–2026).
