United Nations Human Rights Monitoring Mission in Ukraine


Switzerland renews its contribution to the UN Human Rights Monitoring Mission in Ukraine (HRMMU) for 2021-2023 in the context of its support to a peaceful resolution of the ongoing conflict in the east of the country. The presence and impartial work of the Mission on both sides of the line of contact and with regard to Crimea is important to enable dialogue for human rights issues, to prevent violations of human rights, and to contribute to increasing accountability of duty bearers.

RegionCountry Topic Period Budget
Ukraine
Human rights
Conflict & fragility
nothemedefined
Human rights (incl. Women's rights)
Conflict prevention
01.01.2021 - 31.12.2024
CHF  2’850’000
Background While the armed conflict in the east of Ukraine entered its seventh year with a huge human toll (over 3’300 dead civilians, 7’000 injured civilians, 1.46 million IDPs and 3.4 million Ukrainians in need of protection), pre-existing inequalities and human rights concerns have been further exacerbated by the COVID-19 pandemic. However, civilian casualties have decreased in 2020, with no single civilian casualty reported since August 2020.
Target To increase protection of human rights of men, women, girls and boys in Ukraine, covering government-controlled (GCA) and non-government controlled (NGCA) areas and Crimea, including in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic response.
Target group Duty bearers: The government of Ukraine (Ombudsperson’s Office, law enforcement agencies etc.), as well as NGCA authorities and armed groups. The final beneficiaries of the HRMMU’s work are rights holders, i.e. those individuals and communities in Ukraine whose rights have been affected, in particular in conflict-affected areas and in Crimea, and in relation to COVID-19 pandemic.
Outcomes

1) Enhanced prevention and protection of human rights of men, women, girls and boys in situations of conflict and insecurity in Ukraine, including government and non-government controlled territories (GCA and NGCA) and Crimea.

2) Rule of law and accountability mechanisms increasingly address human rights violations in Ukraine, including social and economic rights particularly affecting women, children and minorities

Results

Expected Results:  

- The Government of Ukraine, non-State actors and the international community are better informed on human rights issues, including in the conflict-affected areas in the east and Crimea, and on COVID-19 pandemic response, and are enabled to appropriately address the issues of concern and respond to individual cases and patterns identified by OHCHR/HRMMU.

- The Government of Ukraine and civil society have a better understanding of accountability mechanisms and the Government conducts effective investigations of the most egregious human rights violations.


Results from previous phase:  

In 2019 alone:

• 337 new cases of human rights violations, including violations of international human rights and international humanitarian law, were documented and 1300 follow-up actions taken to corroborate allegations and to engage in advocacy interventions for the protection of victims.

• 138 men and 2 women detained arbitrarily were released following HRMMU advocacy.

• 650 victims of torture and ill-treatment, as well as sexual and gender-based violence, incommunicado detention and more, received legal assistance from civil society organisations supported by HRMMU.

It is estimated that since 2014 Ukrainian authorities have implemented 60% of recommendations made by HRMMU.


Agency SDC
Credit Swiss cooperation with Eastern Europe
Project Partners Contract Partner
United Nations Organization (UNO)
  • UNHCHR


Other Partners
United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR)
Projects Coordination Swiss contribution to HRMMU complements its support to ICRC, OSCE Special Monitoring Mission. UN-OCHA, the Council of Europe and UNDP, all of which are current partners. Synergies exist with Swiss support to local NGOs (e.g. Crimean Human Rights Group co-funded by HSD). Findings of HRMMU reports are utilized throughout all Domains of Swiss Cooperation Programme 2020-23.
Additional Credit Switzerland's additional contribution will allow the HRMMU to scale up, deploy additional staff and equip all personnel to re-deploy to conflict affected areas, and to adapt to the new security challenges associated with the Russian military attack on Ukraine since February 24, 2022. The HRMMU's mandate remains however unchanged: ie to monitor and report on human rights violations (incl. civilian casualties and indiscriminate and deliberate attacks on civilians and civilian objects, on impact of the conflict on I DPs and risk groups).
Budget Current Phase Swiss Budget CHF    2’850’000 Swiss Disbursement Till Know CHF    2’797’500
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)