The agency cancelled additional conditions for demobilisation following criticism from human rights activists and families
The Military Ombudsman's Office has withdrawn an initiative that set new requirements for the discharge of military personnel raising children with disabilities. This decision followed public backlash from parental organizations. This was reported by Glavcom citing the Ukrainian Center for Human Rights Protection, according to the portal PromPolitInform.
The agency emphasised that the developers’ initial intent was to standardise approaches to mobilisation deferment and the right to discharge, aiming to equalise the rights of those liable for military service and active duty personnel. However, following consultations with civil society representatives, the agency acknowledged that certain provisions of the document could have led to the restriction of family rights.
Criticism of proposed changes
The main point of contention was a clause requiring proof of the absence of other persons obligated to care for the child. Parents feared that such an instrument would significantly complicate the process of exercising the right to discharge for families where one partner is already serving in the ZSU and the child has a disability. Previously, the Ukrainian Center for Human Rights Protection noted that if both parents were present, the right to discharge could have been effectively nullified.
The Office admitted it heard the families’ arguments and decided to revise its approach to ensure the protection of the interests of the service members themselves, rather than narrowing their opportunities. Currently, none of these proposals have been officially registered as a bill in the Verkhovna Rada.
Further plans and consultations
The Office’s team held a meeting with representatives of the Network of Parental Organizations, which unites over 50 associations. The agency stated its intention to continue the dialogue, particularly with a group of mothers raising children on their own while their husbands carry out combat missions.
Meanwhile, the issue of discharging parents of children with disabilities remains relevant in the context of the discussion of Bill No. 15057. Although the Ministry of Defence of Ukraine previously did not support this initiative, the agency estimates that about 2,000 soldiers could potentially benefit from such changes. At this stage, Article 23 of the Law of Ukraine “On Mobilisation Preparation and Mobilisation” already provides for deferment for parents raising a child with a disability under 18, or an adult with a group I or II disability.
Photo: Glavcom
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