Advocacy, fundraising, interaction with state and international institutions: training for families of prisoners and missing persons was held in Kyiv

On 24 October 2025, a training session “Voices of Families: How to Turn Experience into Influence” was held in Kyiv, bringing together associations of relatives of prisoners of war and civilians unlawfully held by Russia, and those missing in special circumstances from various regions of Ukraine.

Representatives of civil society organisations and communities from different regions of Ukraine took part in the event, including: “We Believe — We Will Return”, “Find and Return 57/34”, “Heritage of Ukrainian”, “I Will Definitely Return”, “Born Free”, “Women’s Family”, “Civilians in Captivity”, “Voice of the Missing” (30th Mechanised Brigade), “Military Medics of Ukraine”, “Unconquered Verbove”, Movement of Hope, Union of Families of Territorial Defence of Mariupol, Community of Families of Azov Brigade Soldiers — Defenders of Mariupol, as well as the Association of Families of Missing and Captured Soldiers of the 60th, 56th, 66th, 81st, 93rd, 210th, and 1st Siversk Brigades, the service “Abducted Melitopol Residents” and others.

Participants and speakers, discussing the purpose and expectations of the training, emphasised the importance of family unity in joint efforts to establish the fate of missing persons and secure the release of prisoners, as well as the need to strengthen their voice in society and before state and international structures.

In this context, four training sessions were held during the day: “Human rights instruments and advocacy”, “Communication with law enforcement agencies”, “International mechanisms for searching for and protecting missing persons and prisoners”, and “Fundraising and project activities”. They were devoted to human rights protection, advocacy, effective interaction with state and international structures, as well as the development of families’ own initiatives.

Alena Lunova, the Advocacy Director of the Human Rights Centre ZMINA, explained how families can use human rights instruments and advocacy opportunities to influence decision-making and make their voices heard by the authorities. Ihor Kalantai, representative of the Main Investigation Department of the National Police of Ukraine, explained how law enforcement agencies investigate cases of missing persons, outlined the powers of investigators and the algorithms of actions that are important for the families of victims.

Nihad Branković, Deputy Head of the International Commission on Missing Persons (ICMP) programme in Ukraine, Alma Mašić, Coordinator of the ICMP’s civil society initiatives programme, and Nataliia Yatsyshyn, Head of the Family Liaison Unit of the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC), spoke about international mechanisms for the search and protection of missing persons and prisoners. They outlined the role of their organisations in working with families and Ukrainian institutions, as well as the challenges related to limited access to places of detention.

The programme was concluded by the founder of the Connection Agency, Uliana Movchan, who shared practical advice on fundraising, developing project ideas and writing effective grant applications, which will help family communities attract resources for their initiatives.

The event was organised by the Media Initiative for Human Rights and the Human Rights Centre ZMINA. Its implementation was made possible through the financial support of the International Commission on Missing Persons (ICMP), funded by the Government of Canada.

Photo credit: Media Initiative for Human Rights