UN Human Rights in Ukraine

Profile

Deployed in March 2014, the UN Human Rights Monitoring Mission in Ukraine (HRMMU) monitors and publicly reports on the human rights situation in the country with the aim of strengthening human rights protection, fostering access to justice, and ensuring that perpetrators of human rights violations are held to account. Since the start of the armed attack by the Russian Federation against Ukraine on 24 February 2022, HRMMU’s work has focused on documenting violations of international human rights law and international humanitarian law committed by all parties to the conflict.

Main activities

Monitor and prepare evidence-based and impartial public reports on the human rights situation in the country which inform high-level conflict resolution fora, support accountability mechanisms, identify remedies for victims, serve as early warning tools, and contribute to shaping the responses of national and international stakeholders.
Contribute to the UN Secretary-General reports on the human rights situation in the Autonomous Republic of Crimea and the city of Sevastopol, Ukraine, published twice a year. HRMMU is the main contributor.
Advocate with the parties to the conflict and all relevant stakeholders for the protection of civilians, the humane treatment of prisoners of war, and the realization of the rights to truth and justice.
Support and provide technical advice to national human rights institutions and assist national authorities develop laws and policies that are in line with international human rights standards.
Lead the work of the human rights working group of the United Nations Country Team in Ukraine.
Coordinate joint United Nations Country Team submissions to the United Nations human rights mechanisms.

Type of engagement

Human Rights Monitoring Mission

Year established

2014

Field presences

The Mission has offices in Kyiv, Dnipro, Odesa, Poltava and Uzhhorod. The Mission conducts regular field visits across the country. It also monitors remotely the human rights situation in the areas of Ukraine occupied by the Russian Federation where it has no physical access. Since August 2022, the Mission has a satellite team in Chisinau, Moldova.

Number of staff

Annual budget needs

US$ 11,000,000

Achievements

As of July 2023, HRMMU has released 35 periodic reports, 10 briefing papers, 9 thematic reports and 6 updates on the human rights situation in Ukraine, all of them providing partners in Ukraine and beyond with evidence-based findings that are presented at each session of the Human Right Council. The documents are publicly available on the OHCHR global website andthe website of the UN in Ukraine.
Since 2014, HRMMU has maintained a comprehensive record of conflict-related civilian casualties in Ukraine, with data disaggregated by sex, age, place of incident, and type of incident or weapon involved. Since 24 February 2022, HRMMU has increased the frequency of its public updates on civilian casualties
Through direct intervention, HRMMU has contributed to the opening of investigations and other redress-seeking processes. In addition, HRMMU experts on the Istanbul Protocol (Manual on effective documentation and investigation of torture and other cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment) have provided training to more than 1,000 state officials throughout the country, mainly from the Security Service, Prosecutor’s Office and penitentiary system of Ukraine. With HRMMU’s support, over 800 individuals affected by grave conflict-related human rights violations have also received legal assistance.
HRMMU has enhanced the capacity of local NGOs to document grave human rights violations, including cases of torture and ill-treatment, and to provide psychosocial support to victims of torture and their families, as well as to the relatives of those detained or missing.
HRMMU has successfully completed the 2020/2021 OHCHR Gender Accreditation Programme. The Mission has taken steps to further integrate women’s human rights and a gender perspective into its monitoring, reporting and advocacy work. In December 2021, HRMMU’s progress was assessed by an independent auditor who concluded that the Mission had met 39 out of the 40 programme markers, achieving the highest level of accreditation to date in the OHCHR Gender Accreditation Programme.
HRMMU has provided legal expertise and reviewed multiple draft laws, such as laws on missing persons and on the protection and compensation of civilian victims of the armed conflict, including in relation to housing, land and property rights.
HRMMU’s advocacy has helped bring State practices in line with international human rights standards. For example, following HRMMU engagement on the issue, the Constitutional Court of Ukraine repealed a rule preventing judges from applying measures other than detention to persons awaiting trial in conflict-related criminal cases. The decision led to an overall reduction of violations of the right to liberty. Similarly, following HRMMU’s advocacy, the Constitutional Court repealed Article 375 of the Criminal Code, which made judges liable for delivering a knowingly unfair decision, thereby strengthening the independence of judges.
HRMMU and UN Women have helped the Government of Ukraine develop the Strategy for Prevention of and Response to Conflict-Related Sexual Violence in Ukraine. The Strategy provides guidance and recommendations to governmental institutions, civil society organizations, and international organizations on how to effectively prevent and respond to conflict-related sexual violence.
HRMMU prepared the joint UN Country Team inputs for the draft National Human Rights Strategy and National Human Rights Action Plan 2021-2023, which were adopted in March and June 2021 respectively. Several provisions of the Strategy and Action Plan align with HRMMU recommendations. HRMMU together with the UN Country Team has since supported the development and adoption of the second Strategy and Action plan, due to start in 2023.
HRMMU is an active member of the Humanitarian Country Team and its Protection Strategy Working Group, as well as its protection cluster.

Partners and Donors

Partners: Government of Ukraine, Parliament of Ukraine, the Ukrainian judiciary and law enforcement bodies, Ombudsperson’s Office, UN agencies, civil society organizations.

Donors: Belgium, Canada, Central Emergency Response Fund, Estonia, European Commission, Conflict-Related Sexual Violence Prevention Multi-Partner Trust Fund (CRSV-MPTF), Germany, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Poland, Slovakia, Sweden, Switzerland, Ukraine, University of Geneva, Türkiye, United Kingdom, United States of America, UN Secretary-General's Peacebuilding Fund (PBF).

UN Human Rights Focus Areas

Thematic pillars

Peace and Security: Early warning, prevention and protection of human rights in situations of armed conflict and insecurity.
Justice and Accountability: Strengthening the rule of law, compliance to and accountability for violations of human rights law and international humanitarian law.
Mechanisms: Promoting and improving the implementation of UN human rights mechanisms recommendations.

Spotlight populations

Women
IDPs
Prisoners of war
Persons with disabilities
Older persons
Minorities

Last reviewed: December 2022