Draft bill #13037 of February 21, 2025 

Cosponsors: a group of 40 MPs from the factions Servant of the People, Holos, and European Solidarity, and the For the Future group with Mariia Mezentseva-Fedorenko as the first signatory 

Status: sent for review to the Committee on National Security, Defense, and Intelligence 

Who is affected: the Armed Forces of Ukraine, the Ministry of Defense, the General Staff, central executive bodies, and NGOs specializing in gender equality 

Summary: 

  • the Disciplinary Statute of the Armed Forces will be supplemented with provisions regarding: 
    • equal rights for male and female service members 
    • prohibition of any kind of discrimination 
    • protection from gender-based violence 
    • protection from sexual harassment 
    • protection of sexual freedom and inviolability 
    • respect for commanders and other military personnel 
    • courtesy and obligation to observe military etiquette 
  • service members will be required to restrain themselves and others from any manifestations of discrimination or insults (verbal abuse, gestures, or actions) based on race, skin color, political views, religion, gender, origin, property ownership, language, or other characteristics, as well as to prevent sexual harassment and violence 
  • if a service member commits or attempts to commit an offense against sexual freedom or sexual inviolability, they will be removed from performing official duties 
  • commanders will be obliged to respond immediately to offenses against sexual freedom and inviolability, including detaining a subordinate during the commission of such an offense, during the attempt to commit it, or immediately after the crime 
  • it will not be allowed to dismiss, punish, or subject to any pressure a service member who reports discrimination, sexual harassment, gender-based violence, or crimes against sexual freedom because of their report 
  • a service member who becomes aware of cases of gender discrimination, sexual harassment, violence, or crimes against sexual freedom will be obligated to report them to the respective military unit or to an advisor on equal rights and prevention of gender-based violence. 

What is right: 

  • the bill proposes clear mechanisms for responding to cases of discrimination and violence that will contribute to creating a safer environment for service members 
  • the proposed guarantees against reprisals for those who report offenses will encourage openness and timely detection of problems 
  • the obligation to immediately respond to the incidents will increase the accountability of leadership and help prevent the cover-up of cases of violence. 

Background information: 

After the beginning of the full-scale invasion, a need to introduce the position of the military ombudsperson was recognized. The establishment of this institution was announced by the Minister of Defense in the fall of 2023, and was supported by the President. At the end of 2024, the President appointed Olha Reshetylova as the Presidential Commissioner for the Protection of the Rights of Service Members and Their Families and requested the Cabinet and the Parliament to promptly support the bill after it is drafted and submitted. 

Additional information: article by Iryna Korzhenkova: The army of a healthy person: what the Military Ombudsperson should focus on in Ukraine