Human Rights Organization «Association of Ukrainian Human Rights Monitors in Law Enforcement»
The Association of Ukrainian Human Rights Monitors in Law Enforcement (UHRM Association) is a non-governmental human rights organization that carries out the monitoring of the national system of compliance with human rights and fundamental freedoms in the activities of law enforcement agencies. The organization was established following the dissolution of the Human Rights Monitoring Department in the Ministry of Internal Affairs of Ukraine, which existed in 2008-2010.
The main activities of the Association are:
- Combating torture;
- Development of public oversight;
- Protection of human rights activists;
- Work with vulnerable groups;
- Law enforcement reform.
The UHRM Association has many years of experience in the field of human rights monitoring by its own pool of experts participating in the work of advisory boards and interdepartmental expert groups. Experts of the Association participate in the development of amendments to the by-laws governing the activities of law enforcement agencies and are co-authors of draft laws; they also develop training, workshops, manuals, analytical and methodological materials, research-based publications, etc.
The UHRM Association is an apolitical and non-for-profit organization. Its work is partially supported by grants, but not all activities are backed up financially; hence, most of the work is carried out on a volunteer basis.
The number of regional branches of the UHRM Association in Ukraine today is 17. Nearly 80 people are members of these organizations, who also has rich experience working in other renowned Ukrainian organizations, such as the Ukrainian Helsinki Human Rights Union, the Kharkiv Human Rights Protection Group, the Committee of Voters of Ukraine, and the Civil Network OPORA. More than 20 members of the Association are former officers of the law enforcement agencies of Ukraine with many years of service in various departments, including internal security, organized crimes units, and universities in the system of internal affairs.
