On 12 June 2026, the Steering Committee of the Council of Europe Project “Rights of Veterans and Personnel of Armed Forces in Ukraine” convened to review progress achieved during the implementation of the Project and discuss priorities for its final phase. The meeting brought together Project partners, reflecting on the growing importance of protecting the rights of military personnel, veterans and their family members and reaffirming commitment to strengthening human rights protection people engaged in the security and defence sector.

During the meeting, participants highlighted the Project’s achievements since its launch in 2024, including the expansion of cooperation with a broad range of national institutions and the implementation of activities covering diverse thematic areas. These have ranged from promoting social and labour rights of veterans, accessibility and inclusive communication, trauma-informed approaches and prevention of burnout, to strengthening mechanisms for preventing discrimination, addressing sexual harassment, improving complaints-handling procedures and supporting the reintegration of veterans. The Project has also contributed to strengthening institutional capacities through nationwide training programmes and practical support tailored to the evolving needs of partner institutions.

The Steering Committee also discussed future priorities and the continuation of Council of Europe support under the forthcoming Action Plan for Ukraine. Participants exchanged views on emerging human rights-related needs within the security and defence sector and emphasized the importance of maintaining strong partnerships and coordinated efforts to ensure effective protection of the rights of military personnel and veterans across Ukraine.

The event was organised within the framework of the Council of Europe project “Rights of Veterans and Personnel of Armed Forces in Ukraine”, implemented under the Council of Europe Action Plan for Ukraine “Resilience, Recovery and Reconstruction” 2023–2026.