Coordination platform to support victims of Russian aggression presented in Kyiv 

On 31 October, the event ‘Together for Justice: Creating a Coordination Platform for the Register and Civil Society’ was held in Kyiv, organised by the Register of Damage for Ukraine (RD4U) initiative. The purpose of the event was to create a platform for bringing together civil society and international organisations and national partners to provide support to affected Ukrainian citizens in the process of applying for compensation for damages caused by Russian aggression.

The event was attended by representatives of various Ukrainian and international organisations, including the Institute of Legislative Ideas. Tetyana Khutor, Head of the Institute, presented the key activities of the Institute aimed at ensuring the effectiveness of the compensation process and protecting the interests of the affected citizens of Ukraine.

In her speech, the Head of the Institute highlighted several strategic directions of the Institute's work:

• Compensation of losses: The IIP is actively engaged in the issues of compensation for losses through the use of confiscated Russian assets both in Ukraine and abroad. This contributes to strengthening the legal framework and effectiveness of the compensation mechanism.
• A practical guide for citizens: The Institute has developed a special Practical Guide to help citizens understand the process of submitting applications to the Register of Losses. The guide provides instructions on how to fill out the application, ensuring clarity and accessibility for the general public.
• Plans for the next year: In 2024, the IIP plans to focus on researching mechanisms for recording damage and addressing shortcomings that may hinder the submission of applications to the Register of Losses. This includes analysing the current procedures and developing recommendations for their improvement.

Tetiana Khutor also stressed the importance of adhering to two basic principles in working with victims:

• The ‘do no harm’ principle: the need for a balanced approach to communications with victims to avoid additional psychological burden and promote their trust in the compensation process.
• The ‘cooperate’ principle: the emphasis on effective cooperation with other organisations to achieve the best results in the compensation process and to make the most efficient use of resources.

‘For the successful implementation of the compensation mechanism, it is important to combine the efforts of all organisations together with the Register of Losses,’ - summed up the Head of the Institute of Legislative Ideas.

Thanks to such measures, Ukraine is taking steps to create an effective mechanism to support citizens affected by Russian aggression, ensuring their right to compensation and promoting international cooperation in this area.