Launch of Louis B. Sohn Research Centre at Ukrainian Catholic University in Lviv, with support of the Asser Institute

On 27-28 February 2026 in Lviv, the Inaugural Conference ‘International Law, Accountability, and Justice for Ukraine’ was organised by the Louis B. Sohn Research Centre of the Faculty of Law of the Ukrainian Catholic University in collaboration with the EU Project ‘Pravo-Justice’ and the T.M.C. Asser Institute. The event marked the official launch of the Louis B. Sohn Research Centre, a new initiative dedicated to examining evolving legal developments, and conducting research.

The researchers from the Asser Institute and the University of Amsterdam contributed to this important initiative through their active engagement with organising and participating in discussions.

In her intervention, Gabriela Radu, Researcher at the T.M.C. Asser Institute, opened the conference by highlighting current challenges in international law and discussing potential avenues to strengthen accountability.

Dr Marieke de Hoon, Assistant Professor of (International) Criminal Law at the University of Amsterdam, joined the panel discussion about the role of international law and courts in ensuring just peace for Ukraine, and shared her expertise and insights concerning this crucial topic and how international tribunals can be instrumental for accountability processes.

Dr Gabrielė Chlevickaitė, Senior Researcher in International Criminal Law and Coordinator of the MATRA-Ukraine 2025-2029 and Restoring Dignity and Justice in Ukraine (Asser component), in her intervention on the panel dedicated to the topic justice and accountability for international crimes: realistic (re)evaluation, spoke of the importance of ensuring Ukrainian investigations and prosecutions of international crimes are conducted at the highest legal standard, and the clear need for a strategic approach to all justice efforts, including prioritisation, specialisation, and management of expectations in an overwhelmed system.  

The Asser Institute’s participation underscored a strong commitment to supporting the newly established research centre at the Faculty of Law of the Ukrainian Catholic University, as well as to advancing international efforts aimed at justice and accountability in Ukraine. It will continue to engage in and support initiatives that advance these objectives, for instance, through the initiative of the Inter-University Programme on International Criminal Law and Procedure for Ukrainian Law Schools (IUP 2.0).

[Project: Restoring Dignity and Justice in Ukraine]

Support for this conference was made possible through the broader “Restoring Dignity and Justice in Ukraine” programme, which focuses on advancing accountability for international crimes committed in Ukraine. The programme is funded by the Dutch Ministry of Foreign Affairs and implemented by the International Development Law Organisation (IDLO), in partnership with the T.M.C. Asser Institute, the Centre for International Legal Cooperation (CILC), and the Netherlands Helsinki Committee (NHC).