OGP Global Summit 2025: Ukraine Sets New Standards of Partnership in the Field of Security

 The “SAFE Ukraine 2030” Foundation, together with the United Kingdom, Germany, and Moldova, presented the programme “A New Culture of Security” during the High-Level Roundtable “LEADERSHIP AND PARTNERSHIP IN SECURITY: THE LEADING ROLE OF CIVIL SOCIETY - from principles and standards to responsibility” at the Global Summit of the international Open Government Partnership (OGP) Initiative.  “The innovative aspect of the proposed programme lies in the defining role of civil society in the field of security — serving as a guarantor of the preservation and protection of democratic values, as well as a driving force for new standards and formats of responsible partnership, including public-private cooperation. ‘A New Culture of Security’ represents a new social contract uniting citizens, government, business, and international partners,” noted Olena Sukmanova, President of the SAFE Ukraine 2030 Foundation.

For the first time, security will become one of the strategic directions of the OGP. Following the results of the Summit, the Vitoria-Gasteiz Declaration was adopted: «Acknowledging that today’s most pressing challenges... mis and disinformation, cyberthreats, ... – transcend borders and cannot be addressed by any government or institution alone. Meeting them requires global cooperation and local action, rooted in strengthened public participation, human rights-centered digital governance, and collective and multilateral responses to security, climate and environmental crises».  Paul Maassen, Chief for OGP Global Programs, emphasized that «The Vitoria-Gasteiz Declaration is the Summit’s central outcome: a commitment to openness, accountability, participation, and yes, resilience at a time when they are most under threat. I encourage all partners to endorse it and use it as a baseline for action and accountability. Let us ensure “A New Culture of Security” becomes a living example of these principles, showing how democracy and security reinforce one another. The moment demands extraordinary courage, collaboration, and leadership. Open Government gives us the framework to build trust, resilience, and a safer democratic future. We must not step back—we must step up.»

The SAFE Ukraine 2030 Foundation, together with the OGP Coordination Council in Ukraine, has consciously developed this programme at this very moment.We sincerely thank and warmly welcome the support of this initiative from the UK Open Government Network, Transparency Deutschland, IDIS, and the Moldova OGP Multi-Stakeholder Forum.

Ukraine is not merely a recipient of assistance - it is a co-author of the world’s first global standards and innovations in the field of democratic security. The implementation of this programme means standing at the forefront of building the governance systems of the 21st century. This is not just a Ukrainian project - it is a laboratory for the future model of security for the entire democratic world. It is an investment in global stability, in the standards of transparency, and in a new format of trust between the state, society, and the international community.  

The Programme is built around three key pillars:

Partnership: Emphasizing that security is no longer a “state monopoly”, but rather the result of cooperation among government, business, civil society, and international partners.

Innovation: Highlighting a new format of security - one that moves beyond military strength toward risk prevention, cybersecurity, environmental, and digital resilience.

Scalability: Demonstrating that the model can be applied not only in Ukraine but also across the Eastern Partnership countries - and beyond.

The innovative approach of the proposed programme lies in the significant role and leadership of civil society in the field of security — as a guarantor of the preservation and protection of democratic values, and a driving force behind new standards and formats of responsible partnership, including public–civil partnerships, grounded in the principles and mechanisms of the Open Government Partnership (OGP). As a result of the High-Level Roundtable, a Statement was signed, affirming that: «Ukraine has demonstrated that true resilience arises from the unity of citizens, governments, and international partners. Civil society has become the voice of freedom and the guarantor of trust, accountability, and responsibility».

The initiatives of the SAFE Ukraine 2030 Foundation have received positive feedback and high recognition from international institutions and organizations, including:

Written contribution by Ambassador Jouni Laaksonen, Head of the Task Force for the Finnish OSCE Chairpersonship at roundtable “Leadership and Partnership in Security: The Leading Role of Civil Society – from principles and standards to responsibility”: Supporting Ukraine and holding Russia accountable are central to Finland’s OSCE Chairpersonship. Ukraine’s civil society has shown remarkable resilience in the face of adversity, and Finland remains firmly committed to supporting it. I extend my best wishes to the initiative “A New Culture of Security,” developed by the OGP Coordination Council in Ukraine and the SAFE Ukraine 2030 Foundation. We fully support the crucial role of civil society in safeguarding democratic values and in driving new standards and partnerships.

Blair GLENCORSE, OGP Global Steering Committee & Co-CEO of Accountability Lab (UK): Hybrid threats — from cyberattacks to influence operations — exploit the gaps between sectors. Collaboration must therefore be continuous, cross-border, and cross-sectoral. Governments should institutionalize these collaborations — through national hybrid threat centers or joint task forces — rather than relying on goodwill or crisis-driven cooperation. Ukraine is a knowledge donor on ways to empower citizens, partner with civil society, and rebuild the trust that makes democracy worth defending.

Veronica CRETU, OGP Envoy, Former Co-Chair of the Multistakeholder Forum (Moldova): Ukraine and Moldova: Are we prepared to recognize that expertise in democratic security now resides primarily in the East rather than the West? This isn't about East versus West - it's about learning from those who have already built and tested the mechanisms we all now need. 

Kevin KEITH, Chair of the UK Open Government Network, Co-Chair of the UK Multistakeholder Forum: Called 'A New Culture for Security' Ukrainian civil society is redefining security as something shared by citizens, government, and business: not only a threat response, but a proactive, participatory habit. I am deeply impressed by the determination and the reports I have heard so far and I’m sure we can and should learn a lot from it.

Helena Peltonen-Gassmann, Civil Society participant at the OGP Global Summit, 

Member of Transparency International Deutschland: What I have heard here makes me confident that learning vom Ukraine and Modovia who so impressively demonstrate that the true power of resilience lies in good cooperation of Government, Business and Civil Society. I’m happy to take this message and spread and support this lesson back home. 

Diana ENACHI, Co-President, OGP Multi-stakeholder Forum, IDIS (Moldova): I would say that Ukraine and Moldova should lead this initiative having the opportunity to strengthen its security but also Europe’s security, but also ensure democratic governance. Let us remember that our shared commitment and cooperation are the foundations of a safer, more secure, and prosperous future.

UNDP Ukraine: The proposed programme “A New Culture of Security” is regarded as highly relevant, ambitious, and of significant potential impact in the long term. Its multi-sectoral approach not only encompasses numerous areas central to UNDP’s mandate but also interlinks some of our core priorities with a broader concept of security firmly rooted in democratic values.

International Renaissance Foundation: I wish to express my profound gratitude for your efforts, for the organization of this roundtable, and, above all, for our valued partnership.

We express our sincere gratitude to the event’s partners - the European Business Association, the Ukrainian National Platform of the Eastern Partnership Civil Society Forum, and the International Renaissance Foundation - for financial support.