The role of public organizations in the process of documenting war crimes in Ukraine

Abstract

The article is dedicated to analyzing the process of documenting war crimes in Ukraine, which has become a critically important element in ensuring effective investigations of crimes against humanity and holding perpetrators accountable. The authors examine the role of state institutions, international organizations, civil society groups, and volunteers in recording violations of international humanitarian law.
Special attention is given to the structure and functioning of three parallel documentation systems: the jurisdictional system (official law enforcement agencies), the international oversight system (international judicial bodies and monitoring missions), and the civil society system (human rights organizations, volunteers, and journalists). The article highlights the synergistic effect of these systems, which enhances the quality of information gathering, the reliability of the evidence base, and increases the likelihood of identifying those responsible.
The study also explores the theoretical and legal foundations of war crimes documentation based on international and national norms, including the 1949 Geneva Conventions, the Rome Statute of the International Criminal Court, and relevant Ukrainian laws. The article outlines the regulatory requirements for evidence collection, standards for gathering and processing information, and the conditions ensuring its admissibility in legal proceedings.
The activities of civil society organizations in war crime documentation are analyzed, with a focus on their methodologies for information collection, the use of digital archives, photo and video recording, and conducting interviews with victims. The article emphasizes the importance of standards outlined in the Berkeley Protocol and methodological guidelines issued by the Office of the Prosecutor General of Ukraine.
Additionally, the article examines the collaboration between state and civil society structures, highlighting the challenges and opportunities of integrating volunteer initiatives into the official investigation system. The advantages of civil society participation in evidence collection are identified, including speed, public trust, and the ability to gather information under difficult conditions.
The article underscores the necessity of establishing a unified coordination system between national and international institutions to enhance the effectiveness of war crimes investigations and ensure justice for victims.