By Daniel Rodrique
The Operational Service Medal (OSM) was created to recognize the efforts of Canadian citizens in the employ or under contract with the Government of Canada, other than members of the Canadian Forces or sworn police officers serving in missions around the world. Its only requirement is that a person spend no less than 30 cumulative days in service with a mission. The medal acts as an acknowledgement by the Canadian government of the efforts made by these individuals to establish a more peaceful existence in places of armed conflict. This article offers a sound justification for awarding the OSM to the Canadian civilians who chose to be almost 8,000 kilometers away from family and friends to assist the peacekeeping process under the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE) Special Monitoring Mission to Ukraine (SMMU). While the OSM requires that a person spend no less than 30 days cumulative service in a UN or international mission focused on maintaining peace in an area of armed conflict, the Canadians who served on the OSCE SMMU were there for no less than one year and, in most cases, for several years.
The standard definition of peacekeeping involves activities intended to create conditions that favour lasting peace. Research recognizes that peace monitoring efforts reduce civilian and battlefield deaths, as well as the risk of renewed warfare. Within the United Nations (UN) group of nation-state governments and organisations, there is a general understanding that, at the international level, monitoring and observation of peace processes in post-conflict areas may assist ex-combatants in implementing peace agreement commitments that have been undertaken. The OSCE SMMU is a peace support operation intended to create conditions that favour lasting peace. If not for the presence of the OSCE SMMU up to February 24 of this last year, there would have been a definite increased risk of escalating hostilities, resulting in combatant and civilian injuries and deaths. The UN also recognizes that peace monitors and observers are essential to the peacekeeping process.
The OSCE is the world’s largest security-oriented intergovernmental organization with observer status at the UN. Currently, there are 57 participating countries in the OSCE. The OSCE SMMU was established in 2014 to monitor the Minsk Peace Accord. The mission’s priorities are arms control, human rights, freedom of press and free elections. Within this framework, it includes facilitating dialogue with the combating sides in the conflict. The OSCE SMMU was larger than all other OSCE missions combined. The presence of the OSCE SMMU acted as a significant deterrent regarding the kinetic activities between the combating forces. If not for their presence there, the conflict would certainly have escalated earlier, with tragic consequences.
Canadians serving on the mission operated across the government-controlled side of the Ukrainian territory, as well as on the non-government-controlled side of the contact line. There were 40 Canadian civilians deployed to serve on rotation with the OSCE as part of Canada’s commitment to aid in the establishment of peace in Eastern Ukraine. They were not armed with weapons, but with their mere presence (a limited diplomatic status for the purpose of freedom of movement, which may not be accepted by some in the non-government control side of the contact line) and a pen (to record what they witness as well as information relayed to them by the civilian population). The mission operated in combat zones with more landmines than any other country in the world, according to some watchdog organizations. In April of 2017, one mission member was killed in a mine incident, when his vehicle encountered an anti-tank mine. This highlights the fact that the mission members had their share of challenges in the field to deal with. In October 2021, approximately 70 OSCE SMMU members were held hostage in the OSCE Donetsk HUB Headquarters for 10 days. In the past years, mission members came under small arms fire while walking through disputed areas on the contact line investigating Cease Fire Violations (CFV). They had their vehicles shot at and set ablaze.
The presence of the Canadians in the mission served to amplify the presence of all Canadian missions who had operated in Ukraine. CANADEM, acting as the mission’s seconding agency on behalf of the Canadian government, receives funding for this mission from the Canadian government alone and not from any other agency or organization. Established in 1996 with Canadian government start-up funding, CANADEM is an international not-for-profit NGO dedicated to advancing international peace and security through the rostering, rapid mobilization, and mission management of experts committed to international service with the UN, other intergovernmental organizations, NGOs, and governments. Canadians serving in this mission did so with honour and with pride.
This mission was important in raising Canada’s presence when called upon to assist the European Union to aid in preserving peace in Ukraine. These Canadians served selflessly in this mission, sharing Canadian values out of a commitment to a greater good. They should be recognized for their efforts and sacrifice. Awarding the Operational Service Medal to those civilian members of the Canadian Contingent serving on the OSCE SMMU would be a deeply appreciated recognition of their efforts and an acknowledgement that their country values their international efforts in helping to maintain peace through their service to those in need.
