Yesterday we took part in a discussion about “The Public Demand for Justice – How to set realistic expectations” at the conference organized by the Ukrainian Helsinki Human Rights Union on the Turn of History: The path to justice for war victims in Ukraine.
Our Deputy Head of Mission Noel Calhoun spoke about injustices experienced by people on occupied territory. Under international humanitarian law, the occupying power is obliged to protect them and respect existing laws and institutions. In disregard of these obligations, the Russian occupying authorities dismantled Ukrainian systems of governance, administration, justice, and education, imposed Russian systems in their stead, and silenced opposition and dissent. The approach to accountability for these violations should be based on international humanitarian law and an accurate understanding of the realities of occupation.
