Attended by representatives of international organisations, diplomatic missions, and Ukrainian Government, the event was aimed at presenting the human rights CSOs Coalition "Justice for Peace in Donbas" as well as relevant materials collected by members of the Coalition during monitoring activities and fact-finding field missions.

In her welcome address to the participants, Oleksandra Matviychuk, Chairperson of the Center for Civil Liberties, noted that human rights violations are ruthlessly occurring in the east of the country while civil society plays a significant role in restoring justice and peace on the conflict-affected territories.

When presenting the "Justice for Peace in Donbas" Coalition, Volodymyr Shcherbachenko, Head of the Eastern-Ukrainian Center for Civic Initiatives and Coordinator of the Coalition, emphasised that this group united not just Kyiv-based associations, but also grassroots organisations in Donetsk and Luhansk regions. “While each member seeks to take a lead in documenting violations, the Coalition adds value in bringing a more comprehensive picture of the human rights violations in the east,” he highlighted.

The information session showcased serious human rights violations both on territories controlled by Ukrainian authorities and areas seized by illegal armed groups, including abduction, taking and holding hostages, torture, and extra-judicial executions.

CSO experts in the field presented an overview of most relevant challenges in the field of human rights amid the situation of armed conflict in the east of the country. Evidence-based presentations to feature collected and documented cases of rights violations were delivered by Coalition members from Center for Civil Liberties, Ukrainian Helsinki Human Rights Union, Luhansk Regional Human Rights Center "Alternative," Luhansk Advocacy Group, Vostok SOS, and Social Action Centre.

The event then transitioned into a presentation of recommendations by the Coalition. Among the suggestions were a call on representatives of states and international and intergovernmental organisations to use all available leverage on Russia to stop the "undeclared war" and support of terrorists in Donbas, declare the so-called Luhansk and Donetsk People’s Republics (DPR/LPR) terrorist organizations, as well as demand to discontinue practice of taking civilian hostages, torture, cruel and inhumane treatment of hostages and prisoners of war.

Recommendations for the Ukrainian authorities included ensuring due documentation of human rights violations, alleviation of legal framework for IDPs, enhancing rehabilitation measures to combatants and civilians, and bringing the cases of crimes against humanity or war crimes before international human rights institutions. 

The event ended with a discussion debating international and national responses regarding the human rights situation in Ukraine.