Our story – Ukraine Legal Network

Our History

There are over 95.000 Ukrainians refugees in the Netherlands, many of whom are survivors or witnesses of atrocity crimes and human rights violations.

Ukraine Legal Network was initiated as a bottom-up, survivor-led project to respond to the legal and non-legal needs of the Ukrainian community. We do this by organising, informing and empowering Ukrainian legal practitioners, human rights activists and law students who reside in the Netherlands, and actively utilising accountability options available in the Dutch legal system or international mechanisms based in the Netherlands, such as the International Criminal Court (ICC) and the International Court of Justice (ICJ).

By enabling Ukrainian survivors of international crimes to participate in the justice mechanisms taking place in the Netherlands, we aim to contribute to victim-centric justice processes.

2023

November 2023

Ukraine Legal Network was established to provide holistic support to Ukrainian survivors of international crimes and grave human rights violations.

To contribute to ongoing justice processes, The Nuhanovic Foundation began assessing the needs of the Ukrainian community in the Netherlands by conducting extensive community outreach and consulted with survivor groups, Ukrainian lawyers, and Ukrainian civil society organisations to understand the requirements of Ukrainian survivors and victims, in order to design a victim and survivor-led response.

In November 2023, Ukraine Legal Network was formally launched as a survivor-led initiative that aims to play a crucial role in empowering Ukrainian survivors of international crimes to engage with the justice mechanisms available in the Netherlands.

May 2024

Community Engagement Surrounding the Register of Damage for Ukraine

Community engagement and survivor perspectives are the foundation of Ukraine Legal Network's activities, and in May 2024, we started conducting activities to support the work of the Register of Damage for Ukraine.

ULN conducts extensive awareness raising activities regarding the procedures of the Register, while also supporting survivors in submitting claims with the help of our team of pro-bono lawyers in the Netherlands and Ukraine.

July 2024

Providing Ukrainian survivors with legal advice and consultation

In July 2024, ULN began consulting Ukrainian refugees living in shelters across The Netherlands on the processes related to the functioning of the Register of Damage.

As part of our activities, we provide useful information that is relevant to Ukrainian survivors in the Netherlands, including:

Information on ULN’s activities and ways in which we can provide ongoing support to Ukrainian survivors in the Netherlands.
Legal avenues for restoring rights and information about legal mechanisms available to help survivors reclaim their rights.
Guidance on seeking fair compensation details about the process of securing compensation for damages caused by Russian aggression.
Personalised advice on specific legal issues and concerns that survivors may have.

October & November 2024

Moot Court & Capacity Building Activities

In October 2024, ULN, along with our partners OSINT for Ukraine (OFU), organised a moot court session under Ukrainian civil proceedings exploring the use of alternative methods such as Open-Source Intelligence (OSINT) and digital evidence as methods to substantiate claims - in particular in situations where victims lack proper documentation. The session served as an important step towards enhancing the legal recourse available to victims in conflict zones, showcasing the potential of modern technology and OSINT in the pursuit of justice.

In November 2024, ULN conducted a three-day training and capacity building event, bringing together leading legal experts, practitioners, and advocates to examine the most important pathways to justice and reparation for survivors of the war in Ukraine. The event served as a platform for Ukrainian lawyers, advocates and practitioners to gain in-depth insights into ongoing justice mechanisms available to pursue justice for Ukraine.

Our Mission

Our mission is to support Ukrainian survivors
in the Netherlands and beyond in their fight for
justice and redress.

ULN is dedicated to helping Ukrainian survivors of international crimes and human rights violations access justice and establish accountability for the harm they have suffered. Our mission is to reflect victim priorities, and feedback from the Ukrainian community in the Netherlands lies at the heart of our efforts.

Our Vision

Our vision is a world where victim engagement is at the heart of justice processes.

We strive to create accessible justice processes and facilitate victim engagement by contributing to ongoing accountability efforts, ensuring that these efforts are augmented through the participation of the Ukrainian survivor community. As a civil society organisation with deep ties to domestic and international justice mechanisms in the Netherlands, we want to make access to justice for Ukrainian survivors in the Netherlands a reality.