[SCL Lecture] The Register of Damage for Ukraine: Towards reparation for victims?

The criminal accountability of the perpetrators of international crimes is critical to ensuring justice for victims. However, victims of violations of international law during the conflict in Ukraine also require numerous forms of support to address the harm they have suffered, restore their dignity and allow them to rebuild their lives.

The UN General Assembly Resolution on the “Furtherance of remedy and reparation for aggression against Ukraine”, adopted on 14 November 2022, recognised that the Russian Federation must be held to account for its violations of international law in Ukraine, including by way of payment of reparation. In response, the Register of Damage for Ukraine was established on 17 May 2023 by the Council of Europe, 40 states, and the European Union. The Register (RD4U) serves as a record, in documentary form, of evidence and claims information on damage, loss or injury caused by the Russian Federation’s aggression against Ukraine, is the first step towards a compensation mechanism, which may include a claims commission and a compensation fund. It opened for the submission of claims on 2 April 2024 with respect to residential property damage, with further categories to be opened in due course.

The RD4U is situated among a number of Ukrainian and international initiatives either already in existence or in development to support victims of the conflict and affected communities. With a large number of victims, questions remain as to the operationalisation of and cooperation between these initiatives. Is a victim-centred approach being taken? How can key challenges such as prioritisation, accessibility and ongoing conflict be tackled? How can different actors, on international, national and local levels, work together holistically?

This Supranational Criminal Law Lecture will take stock of the developments surrounding the Register of Damage at this critical stage and tackle pertinent questions regarding a comprehensive approach to addressing the harm suffered by victims.

Speakers

• Keynote presenter: Markiyan Kliuchkovskyi, Executive Director of the Register of Damage for Ukraine (RD4U)
  
• Dr. Kushtrim Istrefi, Assistant Professor, Utrecht University
• Victoria Kerr, Consultant, T.M.C. Asser Instituut and REDRESS
• Olesia Zaiets, Project Officer, Ukraine Legal Network and Board Member, Ukrainian Victims of War
• Moderator: James Patrick Sexton, PhD Researcher, T.M.C. Asser Instituut