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:
The conversation highlighted pressing issues, including:
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.
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.
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.
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