CoE: peace for Ukraine must be anchored in human rights

The Council of Europe has stressed that any comprehensive, just, and lasting peace in Ukraine “must be rooted in international human rights standards.” 

The message came on Monday amid increasing diplomatic efforts worldwide, including a recent peace plan presented by the US President.

“While silencing the weapons and providing humanitarian relief remain priorities, it is essential to lay the groundwork for a human-centred peace that safeguards the rights and dignity of the Ukrainian people,” the Council said.

A memorandum on human rights elements for peace in Ukraine outlines core priorities for the peace process:

• Accountability and reparations: Establish mechanisms to hold perpetrators of gross human rights violations and international crimes accountable, and provide fair reparations to all victims of Russian aggression since 2014.
  
  

• Protection of affected persons: Ensure sustainable protection for victims, IDPs, refugees, prisoners of war, unlawfully transferred Ukrainian children, and civilians in temporarily occupied territories. All detainees must be unconditionally released.
  
  

• Reconstruction and recovery: Plan reconstruction efforts based on human rights principles, prioritizing the most vulnerable and respecting human dignity.
  
  

• Inclusion: Ensure meaningful participation of women, civil society, and national and international human rights actors at all stages of the peace process.
  
  

Ten days ago, a closed-door meeting in Warsaw convened 35 high-level participants, including the Ukrainian Ombudsman, civil society representatives, and officials from international organizations, to focus on embedding human rights at the heart of Ukraine’s peace pathways. A report on the meeting is forthcoming.

The Council emphasised that addressing human rights concerns throughout the peace process was essential to achieving a sustainable and just resolution to the conflict.