Justice for the victims of Russian aggression: human rights defenders presented a guide for applying to the International Criminal Court

On November 26, 2024, within the framework of the Global Initiative Against Impunity, an online presentation of the manual “How Victims in Ukraine Can Be Heard by the International Criminal Court (ICC)” was held, which was developed by Ukrainian NGOs, including the Human Rights Centre ZMINA. This guide was created to help Ukrainians understand the mechanisms of the ICC and the opportunities for victims to testify and participate in trials.

Yelyzaveta Sokurenko, Head of the War Crimes Documentation Division of the Human Rights Centre ZMINA, in her speech she highlighted the scale and cruelty of the Russian Federation’s crimes and stressed the importance of international justice to combat impunity:

“At the beginning of our work, we saw a high demand for justice from victims, but later it turned into a certain frustration, in particular because investigating such crimes requires a lot of time and effort. The development of this guide is an important step, as many people do not understand how the ICC works, which creates certain unjustified expectations.“

Caroline Maurel, Public Information and Outreach Officer of the ICC, highlighted the importance of bringing the ICC closer to affected communities and persons.

“Our mission is to bring the ICC’s activities closer to those who have been affected. We explain that the court prosecutes individuals, not states. The guide will help victims better understand how they can access justice,” said Caroline Maurel.

Dr. Philipp Ambach, Chief of the Victims Participation and Reparations Section in the Registry of the ICC, stressed the importance of involving victims in the process: “All victims have the right to approach the ICC and request permission to participate in court proceedings. However, we must recognise that an active role will only begin after the arrest of suspects. In the meantime, it is important to inform victims of their rights.“

The guide has been developed by REDRESS in cooperation with the Center for Civil Liberties, Human Rights Group SICH, the Human Rights Centre ZMINA, the Kharkiv Human Rights Protection Group, the Ukrainian Legal Advisory Group, Victims Participation and Reparations Section and the ICC Public Information and Outreach Division. It will help victims of the war gain access to international justice and promote the role of the ICC in investigating war crimes, crimes against humanity and crimes of genocide that Russian forces are committing in Ukraine.

The guide is available in Ukrainian and English.