The Deputy Chairperson of the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine Olena Kondratiuk took part in the conference “Restoring the rights of victims of conflict-related sexual violence: an element of peace and global security”, which took place in Kyiv today.
“You are innocent” was one of the slogans of the conference, which brought together representatives of the Government, Parliament, NGOs and a wide range of international partners.
During the discussion, it was announced that the Prosecutor General's Office is currently investigating 274 criminal proceedings on wartime sexual violence. But these are only those cases in which victims have decided to testify. According to Olena Kondratiuk, there are many more such cases and they need to be discussed, and lawyers and psychologists need to be involved to help women, as well as men who have been tortured and abused.
The Vice-Speaker also emphasised the crucial issue of justice for victims and survivors, who are not “victims” but survivors. She noted that the state should clearly identify conflict-related sexual violence (CRSV) as a war crime. The Criminal Code addresses the crime of sexual violence in the broader context of Article 438 – violation of the laws and customs of war.
“Of course, compensation for this type of war crimes should take place in the general context of compensation for other war crimes. The work on this compensation should not be delayed, and russia must pay for what it has done. I am convinced that interim reparations to the victims of violence should be paid from 2014!” the Vice-Speaker of the Ukrainian Parliament stressed.
Olena Kondratiuk also stressed that several draft laws are currently being considered by the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine, which, in particular, are designed to protect the rights and confidentiality of victims of the CRSV, create a payment fund and ensure the provision of interim urgent reparations without waiting for the results of the trial and the end of the war.
“The Parliament is ready to join all initiatives as much as possible and adopt the necessary laws that will ensure justice for the victims. I am convinced that joint efforts will lead us to ensure that every russian war criminal pays for their crimes, whatever they may be,” the Deputy Chairperson of the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine emphasised.