The main challenge today is the enormous public demand for justice, says Deputy Speaker Olena Kondratiuk
10 December 2025, 20:22
On Human Rights Day, the Deputy Speaker of the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine Olena Kondratiuk took part in the opening of the International Human Rights Conference «Lessons for Ukraine for the World: New challenges in the sphere of Human Rights Protection.»
She cited a statistic: before the full-scale invasion, in 2020 the Ombudsman's Office received 48,000 of applications. In 2024 the indicator increased 2.5 times - 123,000.
«This is the reflection of our reality, our struggles and our challenges in all areas and for all categories of citizens: from civilians to military personnel and children. The main challenge today is the enormous public demand for justice. Demand is intensifying against a backdrop of fatigue, despair, economic hardship, rising poverty and corruption. And all this is happening under constant shelling,» noted Olena Kondratiuk.
Against this backdrop, according to her, the fundamental right of Ukrainians is the right to just punishment for the aggressor.
The creation of the Special International Tribunal for aggressor's crimes and implementation of an international compensation mechanism is not just a diplomatic initiative. They are part of restoring people's faith in law and justice,» the Deputy Speaker is convinced.
According to her, it is important to maintain a balance between respecting rights and freedoms during the martial law and complying with the EU values in the path towards accession negotiation.
Another component of justice is bringing Ukrainian children abducted by russia.
This is my parliamentary area of work, within the Bring Kids Back UA initiative. The negotiations are very complicated, with only ten children returned from a list of a thousand. Only 1859 children are back home. Tens of thousands are still there,» noted Olena Kondratiuk.
The Deputy Speaker also recalled that, on her initiative, the Verkhovna Rada adopted amendments to the Criminal Code of Ukraine this year.
«We have supplemented it with separate provisions on war crimes against children: deportation, illegal transfer, delayed repatriation, recruitment. Every crime must be punished, every victim must receive justice,» emphasised Olena Kondratiuk.
She also awarded human rights defenders with Letters of Appreciation from the Chairman of the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine for their significant personal contribution to the development of the protection of human and civil rights and freedoms in Ukraine.
«Sincere thanks to all those who work in the field of human rights, who are there for people in the most difficult moments of their lives. Thank you for your work, for your dedication to human rights, for your courage!» said Olena Kondratiuk.
