The seminar will provide first-hand information on the political situation and the status of reforms in Ukraine, as well as the latest accounts from the conflict-zone. The Norwegian Helsinki Committee invites you to join a discussion between politicians and human rights activists from Norway and Ukraine on ways of achieving accountability and democratic reforms.
The armed conflict in Ukraine is still on-going. Thousands have been killed, and human rights monitors have documented international crimes such as abductions, torture, enforced disappearances, wilful killings of civilians and captives. More than two years after the outbreak of hostilities crimes remain without punishment. Can the International Criminal Court contribute to achieving accountability in Ukraine? Ukraine struggles with widespread corruption and whether efforts to implement an ambitious reform-package will be successful are questioned by both Ukrainian and international experts. In some areas the state fails to initiate necessary measures, and the civil society have to step in. On this background, how can Norway best help to achieve positive change?
Program
16:00 Welcome (Olga Flydal, adviser, NHC)
16:05 Update on documented violations of human rights and international law in Donbass and Crimea (Svitlana Valko, International Partnership for Human Rights, Brussels/Kiev
16:20 Current political situation in Ukraine and challenges in investigation of crimes committed during Euromaidan and during the military conflict (Svitlana Zalischuk, member of Ukrainian parliament and the Euro-optimists group, Kiev)
16:35 ICC comes to Europe; the relevance of the Georgian investigation for Ukraine (Aage Borchgrevink, NHC)
16:45 Norway’s contribution to establishment of the rule of law through reforms in the justice sector in Ukraine (NORLAU Director, Tonje Meinich (Kiev/Oslo)
17:00 Panel discussion moderated by Olga Flydal, NHC:
How can Norway best promote justice in Ukraine? – Svitlana Zalischuk, Tonje Meinich, Ola Elvestuen (V), Bård Vegar Solhjell (SV), Geir Jørgen Bekkevold (KrF), Svitlana Valko, Aage Borchgrevink
17:30 Q & A
Sign up at [email protected] within 8 June.