July 8, 2019
Ottawa, Ontario
The Royal Canadian Mounted Police is pleased to coordinate the extension and expansion of Canadian police deployments to Ukraine. Following a renewed commitment by the Government of Canada to support Ukraine's reform agenda, up to 45 Canadian police will deploy to the country, more than doubling the previous maximum of 20. The additional deployments will extend an additional two years, to 2021.
Canadian police deployed to Ukraine serve in one of two missions: a bilateral mission with the National Police of Ukraine or the European Union Advisory Mission for Civilian Security Sector Reform (EUAM Ukraine).
"Our continuing contribution of highly skilled police officers will help train and mentor Ukrainian police, with the ultimate goal of improving safety and security in their communities," said RCMP Commissioner Brenda Lucki. "Having professional, well-trained and well-equipped police services is key to fostering stability, making people and communities feel more secure, and enhancing the rule of law in fragile and conflict-affected states."
Led by the RCMP, Canadian police serving in Ukraine support Ukraine's police reform efforts. They offer training and strategic advice to strengthen the National Police of Ukraine's capacity and effectiveness on topics including police safety, criminal investigations, and preventing and responding to gender-based violence. Canada's contributions to Ukrainian police reform are helping to ensure the sustainability of reforms and build a transparent and accountable law enforcement agency at the service of Ukrainians.
The goal of the Canadian Police Arrangement, a partnership between Global Affairs Canada, Public Safety Canada, and the RCMP, is to support the Government of Canada's commitments to build a more secure world through Canadian police participation in international peacekeeping and peace support operations, which are critical to longer-term security sector reform and conflict-prevention efforts.
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Contact information
RCMP Media Relations
RCMP.HQMediaRelations-DGRelationsmedias.GRC@rcmp-grc.gc.ca
613-843-5999
Backgrounder
Canada's Police Contributions to Ukraine
Canada recently announced the extension and expansion of its police deployments to Ukraine. Deployed Canadian police will now serve in Ukraine until March 2021 and up to 45 Canadian police are authorized to deploy, more than doubling the size of the mission from its previous maximum of 20 police. Canadian police are deployed to Ukraine through the Canadian Police Arrangement (CPA), a partnership between Global Affairs Canada, Public Safety Canada and the RCMP.
The goal of the CPA is to support the Government of Canada's commitments to build a more secure world through Canadian police participation in international peacekeeping and peace support operations, which are critical to longer-term security sector reform and conflict-prevention efforts.
Canada enjoys a strong bilateral relationship with Ukraine and is unwavering in its support for Ukraine's sovereignty and territorial integrity. Canada is committed to using its international assistance, including through police deployments, to support Ukraine's goals for greater Euro-Atlantic integration. We also support securing Ukraine's future as a democratic, rules-based state that delivers security, prosperity and freedom for all of its citizens.
In support of these objectives, Canadian police deployed to Ukraine serve in two missions: the bilateral Canadian Police Mission with the National Police of Ukraine and the European Union Advisory Mission for Civilian Security Sector Reform.
Canadian Police Mission with the National Police of Ukraine
Canadian police have deployed bilaterally to Ukraine since July 2015, beginning with short-term train-the-trainer roles. Based on the success of these first trainer deployments, in 2016 Canada increased its engagement in the bilateral mission.
In this mission, Canadian police provide strategic advice and support for institutional development to help consolidate the important gains made from Ukraine's early police reforms and provide support for future phases of reform.
Canadian police officers provide training and strategic advice to their counterparts in the National Police of Ukraine in areas including community policing, police safety, investigative skills, gender and human rights awareness, as well as in professional responsibility and ethics. Canada works with Ukrainian counterparts to identify ways that it can support Ukraine's reform priorities. For example, Canadian police serving in Ukraine are providing training on how to de-escalate tense situations, focusing on Ukrainian police officers working in conflict-affected eastern Ukraine. Canada also emphasizes support for implementation of Ukraine's National Action Plan on Women, Peace and Security, including through training on preventing and responding to gender-based violence. Canada encourages its Ukrainian counterparts to prioritize the participation of women in training opportunities offered by Canadian police.
European Union Advisory Mission for Civilian Security Sector Reform
Canadian police also serve in the European Union Advisory Mission for Civilian Security Sector Reform (EUAM Ukraine) where they provide strategic advice for the development of effective, sustainable, and accountable security services that contribute to strengthening the rule of law in Ukraine.
Canadian police serving in EUAM Ukraine have held roles such as criminal investigations advisors/trainers, community policing advisors/trainers, head of security sector reform, gender advisor and strategic planning advisor to the Chief of the National Police of Ukraine, Deputy Head of strategic reform with the Ministry of Internal Affairs, and human resource development advisor.
Background
In the aftermath of the Euromaidan protests that led to the 2014 Revolution of Dignity, the Government of Ukraine undertook ambitious police reforms to respond to the Ukrainian public's calls for more democratic reforms. Police reform is a key aspect of the government of Ukraine's reform agenda.
The creation of the National Police of Ukraine (NPU) in 2015 was an important reform to address past corruption issues that were common within the previous law enforcement system, the Soviet-style Militsiya.
The crisis in Ukraine worsened in 2014 due mainly to Russian aggression and its annexation of Crimea. These actions have been recognized by Canada as violations of international law and Ukraine's sovereignty. Canada condemns Russia's aggression and continues to support Ukraine's sovereignty and territorial integrity.