The UN Military Observer Course

The UN Military Observer Course, which includes theoretical and practical training in accordance with the standards of the UN Peacekeeping Operations Department, is ongoing at the Education and Research Center for International Peacekeeping of the National Defence University of Ukraine named after Ivan Cherniakhovskyi. Currently, 21 officers of the Armed Forces of Ukraine are undergoing training.

The theoretical part of the course covers a range of questions on acquiring the necessary knowledge and skills to fulfill the duties of a military observer in UN missions. To this end, interactive teaching methods and distance learning programs are widely used. Representatives of the International Committee of the Red Cross and the International Organization for Migration were invited to deliver the topics on cooperation with international organizations in missions.

For the first time the future Military Observers had a chance to familiarize with a role, tasks and approaches of the Centre for Civilians in Conflict. The senior military adviser of CIVIC-Ukraine Serhii Dioma described the activities of the organization both on the territory of Ukraine and in conflict-affected areas worldwide.

The practical part of the course will be conducted on the basis of the International Peacekeeping and Security Center of the Land Forces National Academy named after Peter Sahaidachnyi, where the trainees will have the opportunity to practice fulfilling the duties of the UN Military Observer under relevant, real-life scenarios.