Justice for Victims in Ukraine: From evidence to accountability

In the face of ongoing conflict, Justice for Victims in Ukraine, one of the 2023-2024 Scale-up projects, stands at the forefront of documenting violations of international criminal and human rights law. Utilizing the innovative I-DOC tool, a digital system for analyzing evidence of war crimes and human rights violations in collaboration with local and international partners. The project plays a crucial role in preserving evidence, supporting victims, and holding perpetrators accountable for war crimes and crimes against humanity perpetrated in Ukraine. In this interview, Lene Wetteland and Lasse Thomassen from the Norwegian Helsinki Committee (NHC), discuss how the project harnesses technology and partnerships to document atrocities and drive efforts for accountability amid a war.

PPF: Can you tell us a bit more about your I-DOC tool? How does it help streamline the collection and organization of evidence in complex conflict scenarios, and what are its key advantages for war crimes and investigations of human rights violations?

When all information is entered and analyzed into the I-DOC database, it automatically draws the linkages between the details of the crime, location, weapons used, suspects, etc.  It is also constructed with the necessary elements to build any legal case, be it for national courts or sanction mechanisms according to the requirements of the International Criminal Court. It is ideal for large amounts of data over a longer period and ensures that the testimonies are kept safely for the future. 

PPF: How does NHC’s Documentation and Accountability Hub ensure that on-the-ground information gathered by local partners in conflict zones or areas with restricted access is verified and analyzed to meet international legal standards?  

We have documented and analyzed war crimes in Eastern Europe and Central Asia for decades. Together with the Case Matrix Network,  I-DOC’s developer, we hav created a thorough victim-focused methodology based on facts and human rights including handbooks, training sessions, supervision and guidance. Local partners allow for cross-checking and verification in addition to local ownership and capacity building that ensures commitment to the methodology and accountability.  

PPF: In a world where media attention is shifting rapidly, how can we ensure that sustained attention remains on war crimes in Ukraine? What role can your project play in keeping the world engaged in the pursuit of truth and accountability? 

It is a sad situation, but we do our best to keep attention on Ukraine through regular public outreach, and targeted advocacy to decision makers. Thanks to our partners and the analysis in the database, we always have detailed, verified information about the latest developments, which ensures that our contributions are found trustworthy and reliable. We don't aim for the biggest headlines, but highlight the most needed actions to be made with an adequate sense of urgency.