Justice & Accountability for Ukraine: Strengthening the role of survivor- and CSO-led initiatives

Our Aim

The project “Justice & Accountability for Ukraine: Strengthening the role of survivor- and CSO-led initiatives” led by the Netherlands Helsinki Committee, addresses critical gaps in international accountability efforts and justice reform in Ukraine amid ongoing conflict and human rights violations.

First, the sub-project supports Ukrainian civil society organizations (CSOs) and survivor movements in their pursuit of international accountability by strengthening their leadership capacities and facilitating their engagement with international justice mechanisms. This includes providing critical resources and technical assistance to support ongoing evidence collection, legal aid for victims, and advocacy directed at international accountability bodies. Particular emphasis is placed on empowering survivor-led networks to assert their rights and to play a meaningful role in shaping justice responses, especially in cases involving conflict-related sexual violence.

Second, the sub-project promotes rehabilitative, rights-based approaches within Ukraine’s detention system for conflict-related prisoners and ex-combatants. This includes raising public awareness about rehabilitation over punishment, strengthening CSO capacity to monitor detention facilities according to European standards, and implementing trauma-informed, individualized treatment approaches for detainees. Activities range from capacity-building to CSOs, facilitating their engagement with international accountability mechanisms, promoting public awareness of rehabilitative justice, strengthening independent monitoring of detention facilities in line with European standards, and applying individualized, trauma-informed approaches to the treatment of conflict-related prisoners through legal aid, strategic litigation and trainings for prison administration and staff.

Overall, the project recognizes that effective international accountability requires both robust documentation and advocacy by civil society and survivors, and a justice system aligned with European and international standards that treats all detainees—including conflict-related prisoners—with dignity and in accordance with rehabilitative principles essential for sustainable post-war recovery.

Project implementation

Funder: Netherlands Ministry of Foreign Affairs

Partners: International Development Law Organization (IDLO, leading partner), T.M.C. Asser Institute, Center for International Legal Cooperation (CILC)

Project period: July 2025 – June 2027

Budget: 1,125,000 EUR