Reflecting on the Discussion: Public Attitudes Towards Justice Processes and Victim Support in Ukraine
On 16 December 2024, the Ukrainian Legal Advisory Group brought together experts and international stakeholders for a discussion on justice processes and the challenges faced by victims of international crimes committed in Ukraine.
The event was hosted at the Mission of the President of Ukraine in the Autonomous Republic of Crimea.
Among the speakers were:
- Andrii Chernousov – Leading Expert, Kharkiv Institute for Social Research
- Veronika Plotnikova – Head, Coordination Centre for Victims and Witnesses Support of the Prosecutor General's Office
- Maksym Ielihulashvili – Expert, Ukraine 5 AM Coalition
- Alina Pavliuk – Analyst and Coordinator of Lawyers, ULAG
- Moderator: Arie Mora – Advocacy and Communications Manager, ULAG
The conversation highlighted pressing issues, including:
- Victim and witness support infrastructure requires further improvement. This includes better access to information about support providers and what kind of help people can receive.
There is also a need for more coordination between civil society and international organisations, who provide support, the Coordination Centre for Victims and Witnesses Support, and other state institutions with a mandate to support people affected by the war to ensure more effective, relevant, equitable, and accountable support.
There is currently no effective victim and witness protection programme established in Ukraine, which puts survivors and witnesses in danger and disincentivises them to participate in justice processes.
- When participating in investigations into conflict-related crimes at the national level, victims often feel disconnected, with limited communication about the progress of cases and stages of the proceedings.
Victim-centred approach is still not fully embedded in procedural actions, leading to a more traumatic experience, also caused by a fragmented approach to domestic proceedings. Access to justice is limited also by a de facto deprioritisation of incidents that took place prior to the full-scale invasion and challenges faced by victim representatives when participating in proceedings.
- Need for a comprehensive approach in developing justice architecture and victim-witness support systems.
Such a process should be based on the needs of victims, as well as the system itself. An effective system requires mobilising existing institutions, as well as creating new elements to ensure justice for grave crimes and provide effective support to those affected by the war.