Amnesty International has called upon the international community to prioritize human rights in upcoming peace and reconstruction conferences concerning Ukraine. A recent statement from the human rights group stressed the need to focus on “human rights, justice for victims of violations, and the voice of civil society groups” during the Ukraine Recovery Conference, hosted by Germany on June 11-12, and the Peace Summit in Switzerland on June 15-16. More details can be found in the announcement.
These conferences are set against the backdrop of Russia’s continued aggression, with numerous calls for the restoration of Ukraine’s energy infrastructure, ensuring global food security, and addressing the forced displacement of Ukrainian civilians. Amnesty International has also urged for the release of all Ukrainian detainees and the removal of charges against them, along with demining and the removal of unexploded ordnance in conflict zones. For more on the planned conferences, refer to the Ukraine Recovery Conference and the Peace Summit.
- Releasing all Ukrainian civilian detainees and prisoners
- Humanitarian demining and removal of unexploded ordnance
- Observation and enforcement of prisoners of war rights
- Pursuit of prosecution for war crimes and other human rights violations
Amnesty International’s call to action emphasizes that discussions on Ukraine’s future must include effective participation from victims, at-risk groups, and civil society organizations. In addition, the importance of holding Russia accountable for over 120,000 alleged war crimes is highlighted, especially given recent findings. Wartime atrocities, such as mass deportations of children, demand robust accountability frameworks. Details on Ukraine’s ongoing investigations and the establishment of a special damages register can be found here. Further reading on the subject is available from the JURIST article.