11 priority steps to protect human rights in the context of large-scale aggression for 2024 

CrimeaSOS, together with other human rights organizations, has prepared 11 priority steps to be taken by the Verkhovna Rada and the Cabinet of Ministers. These steps will help to: 

• create conditions for bringing war criminals to justice; 
• improve the protection of victims of hostilities, including internally displaced persons (IDPs) 
• reduce the level of tension in society regarding the prosecution of criminal offenses committed during the temporary occupation; 
• increase transparency in decision-making on individual criminal liability for war crimes. 

For example, one of the steps recommended to the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine is to introduce an administrative (out-of-court) procedure for recognizing civil status acts that took place in the temporarily occupied territories of Ukraine (TOT). These are documents that certify a person’s birth or death, marriage or divorce. The Verkhovna Rada has registered draft law No. 9069, which should regulate this issue. However, it has not yet been reviewed by the relevant parliamentary committee. The adoption of this draft law will allow those who were forced to stay in the occupation to receive state-issued documents. 

Another recommendation, this time for the Cabinet of Ministers, aims to ensure the full implementation of the Law of Ukraine “On Social and Legal Protection of Persons in Respect of Whom the Deprivation of Personal Liberty as a Result of Armed Aggression against Ukraine and Members of Their Families Has Been Established.” This law defines the legal status of both civilians and military personnel whose imprisonment is a consequence of armed aggression and should provide them and their families with legal protection and assistance. However, an analysis of whether this law is working or not shows that former prisoners are currently unable to receive full medical and rehabilitation assistance. They also do not receive temporary housing, which is critically needed for Ukrainians released from captivity. 

The draft laws can be found at the link below.  

As a reminder, these recommendations for the Verkhovna Rada and the Cabinet of Ministers were prepared by the Coalition of Organizations that Protects the Rights of Victims of Armed Aggression against Ukraine. The Coalition, in addition to the NGO “CrimeaSOS”, also includes the Human Rights Center ZMINA, NGO “Donbas SOS”, CF “Right to Protection”, CF “Vostok-SOS”, NGO “Public Holding “GROUP OF INFLUENCE”, CF “Stabilization Support Services” and the Crimean Human Rights Group.