On June 11, a Ukrainian delegation began a study visit to The Hague (Netherlands) as part of the project "The Trial Monitoring in War Crimes Cases". This visit is made possible by a grant agreement with the USAID Human Rights in Action Program, implemented by the Ukrainian Helsinki Human Rights Union (UHHRU).

The study visit was organized in partnership with the International Bar Association (IBA) and the International Bar Association Human Rights Institute (IBAHRI), as well as in cooperation with the Asser Institute.

A Ukrainian delegation consisting of judges, prosecutors and lawyers has already visited the International Criminal Court (ICC). There, they had a unique opportunity to observe the proceedings.

During the visit to the ICC, the participants discussed the structure and powers of the ICC Prosecutor's Office. Of particular interest was the meeting with the Victims and Witnesses Unit. It was nice to learn that this department is already working closely with the Prosecutor General's Office, providing support in training Ukrainian lawyers on working with vulnerable groups of victims.

In addition, the group met with the President of the ICC Bar Association, Marie-Hélène Proux. This meeting aroused great interest among the legal community, as Ms. Marie-Hélène spoke in detail about the procedure for selecting defense counsel at the ICC and invited Ukrainian colleagues to cooperate.

At the end of the productive day, the participants talked to the team of the Register of Damages Caused by the Aggression of the Russian Federation against Ukraine. Iryna Kireeva, Legal Advisor of the International Register, and Yulia Kyrpa, a member of the Board, explained in detail the procedures for accounting for losses in Ukraine.

The Register of Damages (RD4U) is a system for recording claims from individuals, legal entities and the state of Ukraine for compensation for losses, damages and harm caused by the aggression. This tool plays an important role in documenting and preserving evidence that supports compensation claims.

It is important to note that the Register of Losses is not a judicial or compensation authority, but only the first step towards the establishment of an international compensation mechanism. The Register accepts and processes claims, classifying them based on certain criteria, and prepares them for further review and evaluation. The launch of the application service on the Diia web portal has greatly simplified this process, allowing applicants to submit their applications online.

For more information about the Register of Losses and how to submit an application, please follow the link: https://rd4u.coe.int/uk/.

The study visit to The Hague is an important step in the development of Ukrainian justice and the fight against war crimes. It provides an opportunity for Ukrainian lawyers to learn from the best practices of their international colleagues and deepen their knowledge in the field of human rights and justice.

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This publication is made possible by the generous support of the American people through the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) in the framework of the Human Rights in Action Program implemented by Ukrainian Helsinki Human Rights Union.

Opinions, conclusions and recommendations presented in this publication do not necessarily reflect the views of USAID, the United States Government. The contents are the responsibility of the authors.

USAID is the world’s premier international development agency and a catalytic actor driving development results. USAID’s work demonstrates American generosity, and promotes a path to recipient self-reliance and resilience, and advances U.S. national security and economic prosperity. USAID has partnered with Ukraine since 1992, providing more than $9 billion in assistance. USAID’s current strategic priorities include strengthening democracy and good governance, promoting economic development and energy security, improving health care systems, and mitigating the effects of the conflict in the east. For additional information about USAID in Ukraine, please call USAID’s Development Outreach and Communications Office at: +38 (044) 521-5753. You may also visit our website: http://www.usaid.gov/ukraine or our Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/USAIDUkraine.