The PRAVO Police Programme was set up in 2017 with the overall goal to contribute to reform in Ukraine’s rule of law system and the establishment of an efficient law enforcement system respectful of human rights.
The Programme worked with Ukrainian agencies responsible for policing, maintaining public order, investigating, and prosecuting crimes to bring their methods and organisational cultures closer to European and international best practices. This was done through advisory support in developing relevant guidelines, various training and knowledge exchange events, and the provision of software and equipment.
Support to the National Police and the Ministry of Internal Affairs of Ukraine
PRAVO Police assisted the National Police and the Ministry of Internal Affairs in reforming their public order management and criminal investigation systems, modernising pre-trial investigation practices for combating cybercrime, serious and organised crime, introducing community and intelligence-led policing models, establishing an effective witness protection system, strengthening police collaboration with the Interpol and Europol, as well as enhancing the police’s professional development system.
The Programme procured vehicles, protective gear, hardware, and software, and also renovated police stations across the country to help the police put its new policies to practice.
PRAVO Police continuously integrated gender considerations into all activities to deliver equal benefits and services for women and men, empower women, and promote their personal and professional growth. Close cooperation was established with the Ukrainian Association of Women in Law Enforcement to this end.
Support to the Prosecutor General’s Office
The Programme supported the Prosecutor General’s Office in improving its human resources management system, modernising the investigation and prosecution framework using advanced IT solutions, strengthening anti-corruption measures, defining prosecutorial ethics standards, and developing international cooperation.
Support to the State Bureau of Investigations
The programme supported the SBI in enhancing its strategic planning framework and capacity to effectively carry out investigations through professional training, modern management practices, and cutting-edge IT infrastructure.
Resilience in the face of COVID-19
As the COVID-19 pandemic reached Ukraine in early 2020, the Programme responded by reviewing its planned activities, including safety precautions in its operating standards, and reprogramming the most severely impacted measures, such as study trips and international travel. The reprogrammed funds, amounting to over EUR 500,000, were used to procure 462,500 surgical masks, 150,000 particulate respiratory masks, and 6,500 coveralls for the National Police of Ukraine.
Following the Russian Federation’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine on 24 February 2022, PRAVO Police was reprogrammed to provide urgently needed support to Ukraine’s law enforcement.
Both previous partners and new recipients, such as the State Border Guard Service of Ukraine and the Security Service of Ukraine, received various types of equipment worth around EUR 8,000,000 in the several months following February 2022. These were delivered to Ukraine faster thanks to the use of emergency procurement procedures by the Programme’s implementer, UNOPS.