Empowerment and Protection - Stories of Human Security Oct. 2014 | Page 38

Ukraine

Conclusion
and recommendations
The start of the political crisis in Ukraine reflected the need for
significant governmental reforms in the country. It is notable that
the fault lines of the debate generated by the protest movement
came close to points identified in the interviews. Protesters began
to demand accountability of the public administration and the
rule of law, meaningful local self-government, a review of the
legal framework and law enforcement structures and the way they
relate to society. Furthermore, the tensions related to identity
politics highlighted in the interviews were visible and had been
known long before the conflict broke out, with material conditions
exacerbating inter-group and state-citizen relations.

LD BANK 2014A)

DGE)

While common citizens were unable to rely on the
police as a security provider, the Yanukovych
government in early 2013 was allocating an
ever-greater share of the budget for the needs of
the Ministry of Interior.9 At the peak of the mass
protests in Kyiv, media reported on the six-fold
increase of state budget allocated to the riot police,
=10.000.000
at a time when Ukraine relied heavily on foreign
loans to fill in the gaps in its national budget. The
problems with the police went beyond technical
inefficiency, as issues flagged concerned their very
mandate and purpose. Police were seen to be
concerned with politics and with maintaining the
political regime, rather than the maintenance of law
and order.
The difference between the actual situation and
what the public expected from police reflected
two different approaches to security: one derived
from the communist system based on a hierarchical
system of top-down control, versus a modern
bottom-up demand-driven security project whereby
police operate as a service provider. This debate
came to the fore as a result of riot police behaviour
towards protestors, whose excessive brutality
became graphically visible to the public.
At the time of writing, the constantly shifting
conflict dynamics that currently affect the
population of Ukraine and its neighbours pose
regional and international challenges of a different
nature. The humanitarian consequences seen in over
3,000 violent deaths10 and some 260,000 displaced
people11 in eastern Ukraine clearly pose additional
and more acute human security challenges than
those presented in this chapter. Nevertheless, the
underlying domestic security concerns that in part
triggered the political crisis remain relevant for
current and future policymakers.

38 stories of Human Security | Ukraine

Recommendations

While the government has changed, the same
security apparatus is still in place. The armed
conflict has focused the country’s attention on
political and national security concerns su ch
as the protection of borders and sovereignty.
However, the risk is that such an approach could
emphasise the very conditions that fuelled the
conflict, increasing the polarisation amongst
some Ukrainian groups and overshadowing
valid grievances that all groups have against
the state authorities. The stories presented here
indicate clear warning signs with regards to the
politicisation and corruption of the security sector,
as well as the perception of the ‘social other’ as
a source of insecurity. Whilst the survey for this
publication was not carried out in the current
conflict zones, the dire conditions in areas such
as Donetsk and Lugansk – and their effect on
the public mood and community relations –
have been subject to extensive public concern in
Ukraine.12 Such grievances must be addressed by
the Ukrainian government for long-term stability
to be a possibility.

▪  nsure that the public security sector,
E
especially police, effectively protects law
and order. Police have the potential to be a
powerful source of human security for the
people, rather than a source of insecurity or a
political instrument. One of the most immediate
priorities for the new government should be
not merely a reshuffle, but a profound security
sector reform, whose ultimate output would
include a democratically accountable police force.
State actors can build on the momentum of the
increasing space and role for the involvement
of civil society, particularly with the growing
volunteer movement, to ensure efficient
mechanisms for public consultations and public
oversight for the reform processes.

The author works for the Association of Middle
East Studies (AMES) is a non-profit organisation
based in Kyiv, Ukraine, that conducts research
and analysis of the Middle East and of Ukrainian
foreign and domestic policy regarding Muslim and
other minorities with a particular focus on Crimea.
AMES has done numerous projects on mediation
and prevention of inter-ethnic tensions (with a
focus on Crimea), and increasing civic tolerance
in the region. AMES is a member of the Eastern
Europe network of the Global Partnership for
the Prevention of Armed Conflict (GPPAC).

T
▪  ackle widespread corruption by addressing
inefficiencies and strengthening the rule of
law. As one of the issues that fuelled Euromaidan,
inefficient government agencies feed corruption
and hinder citizens’ ability to exercise their rights
through lawful means. Citizens must be aware
of their rights in order to exercise them. This will
not only empower citizens, but also strengthen
trust in government and the judicial system. Civil
society have a role to play in enabling feedback
mechanisms and informing citizens about their
rights and obligations.

As the European Union, the United States and other
international donors are signing support packages
for security sector reform with the newly appointed
government, the risks of a politicised security sector
must be carefully assessed.13 Frameworks for civil
oversight of security sectors, underpinned by free
press and civil rights education, must be integral to
such reforms. Another conflict factor that inevitably
affects this process is the rise of paramilitary groups
on both sides of the conflict, a sign of continued
militarisation of Ukrainian security.

P
▪  rioritise accountability and transparency in
government activities. Building trust between
the citizens, government, and other stakeholders
will require freedom of information. Effective
governance requires that citizens can hold their
government accountable and critique its actions.
The media and social networks can be instrumental
channels for transparency, and can be used by
citizens to hold the government accountable.

On the other hand, the past year has also built
an unprecedented momentum of Ukrainian civil
society groups and social movements. Not only
were they instrumental in leading and calling for
nonviolent approaches during the Euromaidan
protests, they are now key in assisting the
protection and humanitarian support of populations
affected by the conflict, filling important gaps in the
state’s capacities. Civil society is a needed partner
by the government; this provides important entry
points for a longer-term collaboration for human
security. However, this will only be a possibility
if human security concerns are not completely
overshadowed by the political and militarised
national security strategies perpetuated in the
context of the ongoing armed conflict.

Support initiatives to strengthen dialogue
▪ 
processes addressing the current disconnect
and divisions between different political, socioeconomic and cultural groups. The complexities
of the Ukrainian identity should have room
for expression as part of a national narrative of
peaceful co-existence. A number of civil-society
led dialogue initiatives can further inform the
reforms aiming to increase both the actual and
perceived security.

Menu

39