ZMINA meets with administrator of United Nations Development Programme

Achim Steiner, Administrator of the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), arrived in Ukraine on a visit, during which he promised to expand the UN’s support in the process of Ukraine’s recovery and called for the involvement of civil society in decision-making. In Kyiv, Steiner met with representatives of civil society, including Head of Human Rights Centre ZMINA Tetiana Pechonchyk. 

Photo: Round table meeting with Ukrainian civil society. Author: UNDP 

Thirteen civil society organizations took part in the meeting. Tetiana Pechonchyk spoke about documenting war crimes, including enforced disappearances, torture, and cases of deportation. She pointed out the need to develop long-term strategies for documenting war crimes, supporting victims, and investigating serious international crimes committed during the Russian armed aggression in Ukraine. 

“The Prosecutor General’s Office of Ukraine has registered more than 90,000 criminal cases over committed crimes of aggression and war crimes. Human Rights Centre ZMINA and other organizations within Ukraine 5AM Coalition continue documenting these facts. We realize that this work will take years and decades, given the scale and systematic nature of the crimes. Therefore, it is very important to develop a strategy for long-term work and promotion of mechanisms of justice at the national and international levels. Lasting peace is impossible without justice and holding the guilty to account,” Pechonchyk said. 

Photo: Tetiana Pechonchyk. Author: UNDP 

In turn, Achim Steiner emphasized the need to combine the determination of communities in their pursuit of recovery with the support that non-governmental organizations can provide to facilitate a fair and transparent recovery process. The head of UNDP stressed that decision-making processes should be inclusive, and the voices of civil society and vulnerable individuals and communities must be heard. The path to recovery lies not only in reconstructing what was lost but in strengthening Ukrainian society from the grassroots level to the highest echelons of governance. 

In addition, Steiner visited Irpin and met with representatives of the State Emergency Service of Ukraine, the Prime Minister of Ukraine, the Minister of Foreign Affairs, and other government officials. 

Photo: Achim Steiner. Author: UNDP 

“The deep scars of war are everywhere, but I’ve also witnessed the impressive resilience and determination of Ukrainians – we must combine this unbreakable spirit with the support they need to invest, rebuild and regain control over their lives and create the opportunities that they need for the future,” Steiner summed up his visit. 

Background: UNDP is the leading United Nations organization fighting to end the injustice of poverty, inequality, and climate change. UNDP supports and strengthens partners developing sustainable solutions to ensure comprehensive national, regional and local development. UNDP achieves its goals in partnership with the Cabinet of Ministers of Ukraine, other UN agencies, development institutions, civil society, and local communities.