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STATEMENT on the need to ensure the rights of victims of armed aggression against Ukraine

July 7, 2025

Human rights organisations published a joint STATEMENT on the need to ensure the rights of victims of armed aggression against Ukraine.It emphasised that Ukrainian citizens under occupation need support from the state, as well as consideration of their interests and needs in the formation of comprehensive state policies. 

In the document, the organisations reminded that in December 2024, the Ministry of National Unity of Ukraine was established in Ukraine through the transformation of the Ministry of Reintegration of the Temporarily Occupied Territories of Ukraine (Ministry of Reintegration). After personnel and structural changes in the government, a number of important powers, including the implementation of transitional justice principles and measures or the protection of the rights and freedoms of persons violated as a result of the temporary occupation, were entirely lost.  The policy concerning victims of war lost its integrity: its individual components were distributed among ministries without proper coordination.

Therefore, human rights organisations believe that the government’s priority should be to maintain ties with those with whom the state is currently losing contact due to the war. Therefore, the human dimension should be the key to rebooting and strengthening the ministry that should ensure the development and implementation of state policy in the following areas:

• the development of state policy regarding victims of the armed aggression against Ukraine;
• the temporarily occupied territories and the protection of the rights of the population residing there, with the aim of maintaining ties and reintegration into a unified legal, informational, socio-economic, cultural, and educational space of Ukraine;
• internally displaced persons and citizens of Ukraine who were forced to flee abroad, regarding the facilitation of the exercise of rights and freedoms, and the creation of conditions for voluntary return or integration at their new place of residence;
• social cohesion and the building of a long-term just peace, and the implementation of transitional justice approaches.

The POSITION states: these policies are interconnected and cannot be developed by different actors without proper synchronisation. The best solution is to combine these policies within a single ministry responsible for developing and implementing state policy concerning victims of the armed aggression against Ukraine. This ministry could be the Ministry of National Unity of Ukraine after its reboot, staffing and provision with the necessary financial and organisational resources.

«Another option is to retain within the government the position of Deputy Prime Minister for National Unity of Ukraine (without a dedicated ministry), with designated deputies in each ministry. After all, taking into account the interests of the affected population and reintegration are cross-cutting issues and should be considered in all areas, from education to energy. In this case, an Office of National Unity should be established to support the work of the Deputy Prime Minister»? - the document says.

You can read the full version of the Position Paper by downloading the document:

STATEMENT on the need to ensure the rights of victims of armed aggression against Ukraine

UPLOAD

7 July 2025

Human Rights Centre ZMINA

Crimean Human Rights Group

CrimeaSOS, Non-Governmental Organisation

EAST SOS, Charitable Foundation

Donbas SOS, Non-Governmental Organisation

Stabilization Support Services, Charitable Foundation

Right to Protection, Charitable Foundation

GROUP OF INFLUENCE, Civil Holding