Strengthening Community Bonds in Ukraine’s Police Force
December 11, 2023
Dnipro and the liberated areas of Ukraine have been severely affected by the Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine.
Because of the war, EUAM Ukraine’s offices in Mariupol and Kharkiv had to be relocated.
To continue working and maintaining a continuous presence throughout Ukraine, a year ago the European Union Advisory Mission (EUAM) Ukraine deployed its Mobile Unit to Dnipro.
Last week, the Mission’s Mobile Unit was in Dnipro for a two-day workshop in Dnipro on “Conflict Management and Mediation Methodology.”
The event brough together 19 Police Officers of the Hromadas (POHs) from regions, including Donetsk, Zaporizhzhia, Kharkiv, Kherson, and Luhansk.
Against the backdrop of social complexities in the liberated areas near the front line, the objective of the workshop was to facilitate exchanges of experiences among Ukrainian officers, encouraging a dynamic discourse on conflict management and trust-building. The workshop also aimed at equipping the officers with tools to enabling them better navigating the current challenges.
Through collaborative efforts, the POHs can work on joint solutions for managing community-level conflicts more effectively looking at best practices in conflict management and coordination with citizens, volunteers, and civil society. Some of the workshop’s sessions focused on the development of trust-building capabilities, conflict management, and mediation – essential skills for managing acute social tensions.
As mentioned by participants, the workshop will enable them to foster psychological support among fellow officers. Facing common unprecedent challenges is something officers from different regions could share also reinforces a sense of solidarity among the police officers.
Finally, this workshop, funded by the European External Action Service (EEAS), is an example of the EU’s integrated approach, highlighting EUAM’s commitment to fostering cohesion and resilience within Ukraine’s law enforcement agencies.
The overall aim is to contributes to the collective strength of the Ukrainian police force.
