On September 26, 2024, a delegation from Ukraine Legal Network participated in the Symposium on Reparative Justice, held at The Hague Conference Centre New Babylon. The event brought together leading academics, legal professionals, policymakers, and human rights advocates to explore the critical frameworks for reparative justice and address large-scale human rights violations.
The programme opened with a presentation by Prof. Dr. Rianne Letschert, President of Maastricht University, setting the tone for the day’s discussions. The symposium featured multiple presentations by the research teams, examining legal and academic perspectives on reparations within international courts.
The key themes of the symposium were addressed in two roundtables:
1. Roundtable 1: Should there be a larger role for victims and their rights in international courts?
Participants, including experts from the ICC, Utrecht University, and Doughty Street Chambers, debated the necessity of involving victims more directly in international legal processes and the extent of their rights during reparations proceedings.
2. Roundtable 2: What are the added values of reparations decisions by international courts for victims when implementation is scarce?
This session brought together professionals from the Global Survivors Fund, WZB Berlin Social Science Center, and the Trust Fund for Victims (ICC) to examine how reparations frameworks can remain effective even when enforcement is challenging.
One of the key highlights was the intervention by Prof. Bernard Duhaime, UN Special Rapporteur on Truth, Justice, Reparation, and Guarantees of Non-repetition, who provided critical insights into global reparations mechanisms. He shared his vision for his mandate, highlighting the need for interdisciplinary collaboration and the crucial role of documentation in ensuring that victims’ voices are heard and preserved.
The symposium concluded with a forward-looking discussion on the recommendations to strengthen international cooperation on reparative justice.
Our delegation actively participated in networking, sharing the Ukrainian perspective on the reparations processes, particularly regarding the victims of Russian aggression. We highlighted the critical legal and humanitarian challenges faced by Ukrainian victims in seeking justice and compensation for damages sustained during the ongoing war.
In general, the Symposium emphasized the importance of a victim-centered approach, advocating for the active participation of victims in all stages of the justice process.
Participants discussed the importance of training the next generation of legal professionals and the need to integrate principles of psychology and social science into legal frameworks. Innovative ideas, such as creating a platform for archiving victims’ stories and rethinking the concept of reparations beyond financial compensation, were proposed.
The symposium concluded with participating stakeholders committing to developing a set of multidisciplinary guidelines for transitional justice and a collaborative network to ensure continuous learning and progress. The day ended with a shared sense of responsibility to drive real change in the field, ensuring that victims’ rights are not just acknowledged but truly fulfilled.
Going forward, Ukraine Legal Network remains committed to advocating for robust international justice and ensuring that victims of Russian war crimes receive the reparations and support they deserve.
