The webinar “The importance of the European human rights system for peace and security – using the invasion of Ukraine as an example” now available!

“When rockets fly from the sky, you can’t stop them with your hands and I wouldn’t protect children with legal speeches under those conditions, so I was forced to travel abroad, and my husband stayed there, like millions of men. […] I would like to take this opportunity, to once again thank foreign specialists for their assistance to Ukraine in various fields. At the same time, I would like to draw attention to the fact that Ukrainians have been living in the war since 2014 and have not only theoretical but also practical knowledge, in particular, regarding the recording and qualification of war crimes in Ukraine. Therefore, we ask you to take into account the conclusions of Ukrainian specialists and to involve them in cooperation when compiling reports on Ukraine and planning activities aimed at helping Ukraine.” – Olena Sapozhnikova, the lawyer of the Ukrainian Helsinki Human Rights Union, June 15, 2022

On the 15 of June, the webinar “The importance of the European Human Rights System for peace and security – using the invasion of Ukraine as an example” took place. During the seminar, prominent experts within the field discussed the possibilities and challenges that the European human rights system offers, including in the light of the war currently going on in Europe following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. Among them we listen to Olena Sapozhnikova, lawyer of the Ukrainian Helsinki Human Rights Union, addressing the reality of the war currently facing Ukraine and Europe and stressing the need for sufficient support by the international community in order to stop the heinous war.

A record of the webinar is now available on our YouTube. Do not miss out on the fruitful exchange of information and experience provided by the experts – especially at a time like this with an ongoing war in Europe and where the European human rights system is being put to test.

An article by Olena Sapozhnikova about the report and the webinar, including her speach, can be found here.