In Chernihiv, they are working on a community safety strategy

On August 22, a training and strategic session was held, aimed at developing common priorities for activities and developing effective mechanisms for increasing the security of the city of Chernihiv.

The initiator was the Chernihiv Public Committee for the Protection of Human Rights in cooperation with the NGO “Expert Center for Human Rights” and the NGO “Institute for Peace and Understanding” with the support of the International Renaissance Foundation.

The main goal of the events was to develop and implement joint initiatives in the field of security at the local community level.

The event was attended by public activists, police officers of the Patrol Police Department and the Chernihiv Police Department of the Main Police Department in Chernihiv region, deputies of the Chernihiv City and District Councils in the city, representatives of the Education Department and other structural units of the Chernihiv City Council.

In the first half of the day, during

the training “Development of Initiatives in the Field of Security of the City of Chernihiv”

public activists and police officers discussed the definition of community security, determined the role of the community in shaping security policy at the place of residence, considered the powers and responsibilities of the police in interacting with the population (Community Policing) and the role of local governments in creating conditions for security and law and order in the community.

In addition, the participants were familiarized with the Ukrainian and international experience of initiatives (projects) in the field of security.

The training was conducted on examples of real successful actions of the public and administrative practice.

As the trainer of the event, head of programs of the Expert Center for Human Rights

Ulyana Shadska

noted: “In order to develop specific mechanisms of interaction and communication between the police and the community, it is first necessary to form public priorities for the protection of public order through sociological research or a simple questionnaire survey of citizens.”

After that, a

strategic session “Safe Chernihiv”

was held, during which the participants jointly analyzed the main challenges in the sphere of security at the level of the city of Chernihiv, determined what tasks should be set and what resources should be involved to solve urgent security issues of the community, in particular regarding ensuring a safe environment in educational institutions and preventing teenage violence and bullying.

An expert from the NGO “Institute of Peace and Understanding”

Alyona Horova

helped in conducting the strategic session. “The Chernihiv community, which includes the police, must realize its role and take an active position in creating a safe environment. Only together, by involving both local authorities and the police, can we influence the solution of community security problems,” the expert noted.

The ideas and materials of the strategic session will be used in the future to develop a long-term strategy in the field of security in Chernihiv.

The event was organized by the Chernihiv Public Committee for the Protection of Human Rights with the support of the Program Initiative “Human Rights and Justice” of the International Renaissance Foundation.