Ukraine: Roadmap for the Investigation of Crimes Against Humanity
New Publication: Roadmap and guidelines for the investigation of crimes against humanity committed by Russian forces in Ukraine in the context of the full-scale invasion
As Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine enters its fourth year, the World Organisation Against Torture (OMCT) releases a new publication: Roadmap for the Investigation of Crimes Against Humanity committed by Russian forces in Ukraine in the context of the full-scale invasion. This publication serves as a strategic tool to strengthen the role of Ukrainian civil society in investigating systematic torture as a crime against humanity. While rooted in the Ukrainian context, the roadmap and guidelines offer a valuable case study for NGOs and civil society actors in other settings seeking to investigate torture as an international crime. It demonstrates practical strategies, adaptable frameworks, and lessons learned that can inform similar efforts globally.
In 2022, OMCT developed a methodology for conducting in-depth interviews with survivors of torture in the context of armed conflict, tailored for Ukrainian civil society organisations. It aligns with the Manual on the Effective Investigation and Documentation of Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment, the OHCHR Manual on Human Rights Monitoring and international humanitarian law. The methodology was developed with consideration of the local socio-political and cultural context to enable the documentation of torture and other ill-treatment during the Russian Federation's invasion of Ukraine. Since then, OMCT and its partner organizations, Human Rights Center ZMINA and the Media Initiative for Human Rights, have applied this methodology in interviews with civilians detained by Russian forces, helping to build a robust body of documentation grounded in survivor testimony.
Building on this work, OMCT developed a roadmap for the structural investigation of these acts as potential crimes against humanity, offering practical guidance for human rights defenders, journalists, and civil society investigators who work directly with victims and primary evidence. It is based on OMCT’s investigative strategy for Ukraine and draws on the elements of crimes set out in the Rome Statute of the International Criminal Court (ICC), as well as relevant international jurisprudence. It also provides recommendations on evidentiary standards to guide investigators in building credible, legally sound documentation.
The roadmap aims to equip civil society with the tools to identify acts that may constitute crimes against humanity, understand the legal and contextual elements required for prosecution, and contribute meaningfully to national and international justice efforts. While civil society cannot prosecute crimes themselves, this roadmap ensures that their work contributes to both national and international justice efforts by amplifying the voices of survivors and strengthening the path to accountability.
The Roadmap is available in English and Ukrainian.
The Methodology for Interviewing the Survivors and Witnesses of Torture and Other Ill-treatment is available in English and Turkish.
