Human Rights Law

Human rights law is the body of international and regional rules that protects the dignity, freedoms, and rights of all individuals. It sets limits on state power and provides mechanisms to hold governments accountable when rights are violated. Ukraine is party to all the treaties listed below.  The obligations stemming from such treaties remain binding at all times, including during armed conflict. While international humanitarian law (IHL, the law of armed conflict) primarily regulates warfare, human rights law continues to apply alongside it, with certain rights (e.g. freedom of movement) subject to lawful restrictions or derogations in times of emergency. For Ukraine, this means that even in wartime, fundamental rights—such as the right to life, fair trial, and protection from torture—remain binding legal obligations. These frameworks ensure that governments remain accountable, provide individuals with avenues for redress, and reinforce the principle that even during armed conflict, human dignity and the rule of law must be respected.

International Human Rights Law

International human rights law is based on treaties and customary law that apply to states worldwide. Its foundation lies in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights (1948) [English] [Ukrainian] and binding UN treaties, such as:

States that ratify these treaties commit to respecting, protecting, and fulfilling rights such as life, liberty, fair trial, freedom of expression, equality, and protection from torture. International bodies—like the UN Human Rights Committee—review compliance and provide guidance.

European Human Rights Law

In Europe, human rights are further protected through regional systems. The most important is the European Convention for the Protection of Human Rights and Fundamental Freedoms (ECHR, 1950) [English] [Ukrainian], overseen by the European Court of Human Rights (ECtHR) in Strasbourg.  Individuals who believe their rights have been violated can bring a complaint before the Court after exhausting domestic remedies.

Ukraine is a member of the Council of Europe and a party to the ECHR. This means that Ukrainian individuals can continue to bring cases against Ukraine before the European Court of Human Rights. At the same time, Ukraine has also lodged inter-state complaints against Russia, and numerous applications concern violations committed in the context of the armed conflict.

In addition, Ukraine has ratified other European human rights treaties:

  • Council of Europe Convention on Preventing and Combating Violence against Women and Domestic Violence (Istanbul Convention) [English] [Ukrainian] 
  • European Convention for the Prevention of Torture and Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment [English] [Ukrainian]
  • European Convention on the Exercise of Children's Rights [English] [Ukrainian]
  • Council of Europe Convention on Action against Trafficking in Human Beings [English] [Ukrainian]

In addition, the EU Charter of Fundamental Rights [English] [Ukrainian] applies within the European Union. Although Ukraine is not yet a member, alignment with the Charter’s principles is part of its EU accession process.

Read further

  • T.M.C. Asser Institute, Handbook for Legal Professionals in Ukraine Ensuring the Fairness of Conflict Related Trials (2025) [English] [Ukrainian]