[Panel discussion] Tackling the unlawful deportation & transfer of children from Ukraine to Russia: pathways to accountability

The unlawful deportation and transfer of children from Ukraine to Russia during the ongoing conflict is a grave violation of international law. While attention often focuses on top-level leaders, as evidenced by the warrants of arrest issued for President Putin and Maria Lvova-Belova, holding mid-level perpetrators accountable is equally crucial to delivering justice. However, this task poses significant challenges due to issues like evidence collection, chain-of-command complexities, and the allocation of prosecutorial resources.

This event will explore these challenges, alongside the critical role that accountability of mid-level perpetrators plays in the broader justice process. We will examine the limitations and opportunities of international justice mechanisms, particularly the International Criminal Court (ICC), which faces jurisdictional and logistical constraints. In addition, we will discuss domestic legal avenues within Ukraine and the potential for pursuing accountability under universal jurisdiction (UJ). In this conversation, we will pay special attention to the role of civil society in collecting, systematising, and analysing information with the potential to further justice efforts. Together, these pathways offer a multifaceted approach to confronting impunity and ensuring justice for the victims.

Agenda

• 19:00-19:05 - Welcome, introductions
• 19:05-20:00 - Speaker interventions and panel discussion
• 20:00-20:30 - Q&A and closing

This event is co-organised by the IHCL Platform and the Embassy of Ukraine in The Hague.

Speakers:

• Ms Iryna Suslova, Representative of the Commissioner for Children’s Rights of Ukraine - online
• Dr Marieke de Hoon, associate professor, University of Amsterdam
• Deniz Dirisu, chairman and general director of OSINT for Ukraine
• Natalia Jasztal, co-director, international crimes investigation group, OSINT for Ukraine

Moderator: Dr Gabriele Chlevickaite, researcher in international criminal law, Asser Institute