At the end of the year, Ukraine once again demonstrates to the world that war not only destroys, but also gives rise to new paradigms for the protection of human rights. At the International Human Rights Conference “Lessons from Ukraine for the World: New Challenges in the Field of Human Rights Protection,” public figures and experts discussed how full-scale aggression forces us to rethink familiar standards and build previously untested protection mechanisms. As noted by the Verkhovna Rada Commissioner for Human Rights Dmytro Lubinets, Ukrainians today are “directly fighting for their right to exist” — because “if there is no Ukraine, we will have no rights at all.” This message became the leitmotif of the discussions: it is in the conditions of war that a deeper understanding of the value of each right is born.
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New social demands and challenges
Society at war demonstrates a “huge demand for justice.” The number of appeals to the Ombudsman has increased 2.5 times — from 48,000 in 2020 to 123,000 in 2024. This reflects the realities of the struggle: every area of life has faced “effectively new challenges,” from education and medicine to social protection and security. Therefore, one of the key lessons of the war is that society now demands not only security but also justice. The right to life and security “is no longer abstract,” and Ukrainians are seeking “fair punishment for the aggressor.”
Against this backdrop, new legal instruments are emerging. Conference participants reiterate the need for a special international tribunal for criminal aggression and a mechanism for compensation for losses. As noted by Deputy Speaker of the Verkhovna Rada Olena Kondratiuk, the introduction of such initiatives is “not just diplomatic relations” but “an element of restoring people’s faith in law and justice.” After all, it is faith in the restoration of justice that enables society to remain resilient in the face of shelling and losses.
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Dignity, responsibility and solidarity
The discourse on values that withstand the test of war proved to be no less important. According to Ombudsman Dmytro Lubinets, Ukrainian resilience has several key components: responsibility, dignity, faith, truth and unity. He stressed that dignity is not the preserve of the elite, but an everyday norm: “A ramp at a school or hospital is not a privilege, but basic respect for human beings.” Such humanity and equality are the hallmarks of a mature state that cares for all its citizens.
Devotion to these ideals is evident even under fire and in captivity. “We are once again proving to the world that we are capable of defending our dignity,” the ombudsman said. On the front lines of defence or in shelters, Ukrainians maintain their faith in the right to return and defend their most basic rights – to have children, to work, to study. Lubinec thanked those who work with human appeals: human rights defenders, volunteers, psychologists and journalists – because they “document, punish the guilty and restore justice.”
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Children, return and standards of fairness
The report placed particular emphasis on violations of children’s rights – one of the most painful topics of the war. Deputy Speaker of the Verkhovna Rada Olena Kondratiuk spoke about the tragic scale of the problem: there are currently around 1.6 million Ukrainian children in the temporarily occupied territories, and only 1,859 of them have been returned. On her initiative, the Verkhovna Rada adopted stricter regulations: crimes against children related to deportation and recruitment were added to the Criminal Code. “Every crime must be punished, every victim must receive justice,” she stressed. Parliament also stressed that resolving the issue of children is not only a matter of humanity, but also an urgent state task.
Ukrainian experience and global lessons
All participants agreed that Ukraine’s experience of war is already setting new standards for the international community. As Lubinets notes, Ukraine is “the first in Europe” to develop mechanisms for upholding rights and freedoms during martial law. At the same time, negotiations are underway with the EU on integration into the European system of values — in particular, the “first cluster” of negotiations on fundamental rights will open soon. Deputy Speaker of Parliament Kondratyuk said bluntly: “Ukraine is now shaping a new era in the field of human rights protection. Our lessons are lessons for the world.” Even after losing so much, Ukrainians are proving that their pain is giving birth to a global lesson. “Our experience is setting new standards that show other countries how to be stronger, more resilient and more just.”
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