ZMINA joined the event on “Accountability for War Crimes in Ukraine” in Denmark

On 1 February 2023, International Advocacy Officer of Human Rights Centre ZMINA Tetiana Zhukova joined the event “Accountability for war crimes in Ukraine: A Focus on a Survivor Centred Approach and Conflict-related Sexual Violence” co-organized by the Danish Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the British Embassy in Copenhagen, and the Ukrainian Embassy in Copenhagen.

Experts from governments, high-level representatives from Ukraine, Denmark, and the United Kingdom as well as representatives from leading international and Ukrainian civil society, the International Criminal Court, and the United Nations discussed the ways of bringing the perpetrators to justice for conflict-related sexual violence caused by Russia’s illegal aggression and ensuring that documentation and evidence gathering is done through a survivor-centered approach.

During the opening of the conference, the Minister for Foreign Affairs of Denmark, Lars Løkke Rasmussen, underlines the importance of seeking accountability for the international crimes committed in Ukraine:

“Ukraine’s fight for freedom is our fight. Russia’s aggression is an attack on the most basic international principles. We have heard testimonies from brave survivors and victims. These are appalling reports of rape and violence committed by Russian soldiers in Ukraine. This is why Denmark from the beginning has had a major focus on accountability in Ukraine.”

The UK’s Minister for Europe, Leo Docherty, underlined that he was pleased to strengthen the alliance against Putin’s unprovoked aggression, to support the global effort to make Russia pay the price, and to bring the perpetrators of war crimes to justice.

Photo: Minister for Foreign Affairs of Ukraine, Dmytro Kuleba

Minister for Foreign Affairs of Ukraine, Dmytro Kuleba, stresses that the topic of responsibility for war crimes in Ukraine is gaining more and more international publicity and resonance:

“All efforts are important. The work of the International Criminal Court, the UN Independent International Commission of Inquiry on Ukraine, the Office of the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights. The dedication of the on-site special mobile group of prosecutors, police officers, and psychologists. The contributions of Ukrainian, foreign, and international human rights non-governmental organizations and activists. We all have one goal in mind: to ensure that those guilty of serious violations of international humanitarian law and international human rights law who committed atrocities in Ukraine are held accountable.”

The first panel of the event was focused on supporting Ukraine in holding perpetrators accountable for crimes relating to sexual violence. The second panel discussed lessons learned from previous conflicts on how the international community may support Ukrainian civil society organizations.

Photo: Representatives of ZMINA, TCD Center, KhPG, Dignity, General Prosecutor’s Office and Embassy of Ukraine in Denmark

“We have introduced people-centred approaches to investigating conflict-related sexual violence. The key aspects of this approach are, first of all, ensuring victims have access to medical and psychological care, informed consent to participate in the criminal process, and confidentiality of personal information. Much more needs to be done to combat stereotypes and stigmatization of victims of sexual violence. For this, we are developing joint initiatives with partner NGOs,” said Prosecutor Ihor Korol.

The event laid another stone on the path towards justice. The attendants and panellists explored the different ways how Ukrainian community can coordinate and focus on a survivor centred approach, as well as the international community can support efforts to seek accountability for the perpetrators of war crimes in Ukraine.

Photo: Civil society representatives with Emma Hopkins, Her Majesty’s Ambassador to Denmark

After the fruitful conference, the British Embassy in Denmark hosted a networking dinner where the representatives of the governments and civil society were able to communicate on the important topics of accountability and human rights. Emma Hopkins, Her Majesty’s Ambassador to Denmark, who led the UK government’s Preventing Sexual Violence Initiative, expressed her condolence regarding war crimes, committed in Ukraine, shared her experience in ending impunity for sexual violence and wished strength to Ukrainians.