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Home Newsroom News and press releases OSCE/ODIHR co-hosts roundtable discussion in Riga on role of military associations and unions in Central and Eastern Europe
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OSCE/ODIHR co-hosts roundtable discussion in Riga on role of military associations and unions in Central and Eastern Europe

7 June 2016
Kristīne Pakārkle, Deputy Head of Political and Civil Rights Division at the Ombudsman Office of Latvia, presenting on freedom of association and the status of military associations, including the challenges faced by servicemen and women at an ODIHR sponsored roundtable event on the topic in Riga on 7 June 2016. (OSCE/Ewa Sapiezynska) Photo details

International standards and good practices concerning the human rights of armed forces personnel were the focus of an event, co-organized by OSCE Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights (ODIHR) and the European Organization of Military Associations (EUROMIL) in Riga on 7 June 2016.

The roundtable gathered representatives from military associations and unions, authorities, ombudsperson institutions and civil society organizations from Estonia, Finland, Germany, Latvia, Lithuania, Poland and Ukraine to discuss the state of the right of military personnel to form associations, and the necessary conditions to enable such associations to safeguard the rights of servicemen and servicewomen.

"For many years now, ODIHR has advocated for OSCE participating States to permit all members of the armed forces to join either professional associations or trade unions representing their interests," said Ewa Sapiezynska, Human Rights Officer at ODIHR. "These associations or unions should be consulted in discussions concerning the conditions of service for men and women in the armed forces."

Emmanuel Jacob, President of EUROMIL said: "The freedom of association is still limited for military personnel in some countries, for which reason EUROMIL member associations in Lithuania and Latvia asked for further support on this issue.  With this roundtable meeting we hope to provide a platform for the exchange of ideas and best practises."

Discussions also included gender aspects related to service in armed forces.

"We discussed how servicemen and servicewomen benefit from forming trade unions and independent associations," said Jacek Zmarz from the Polish Council of Senior Officers. "The recruitment and advancement of women in the armed forces, as well as parental leave for both men and women in the military were brought to the table."

The event was organized as part of ODIHR´s programme on human rights, gender and security, which supports OSCE participating States in making their security sectors human rights compliant and gender responsive.