Lecture by the Representative of the VR of Ukraine Commissioner for Human Rights

18.10.2024

A lecture by the representative of the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine Commissioner for Human Rights in Donetsk and Luhansk regions was held at the university.

On October 17, 2024, a lecture by Dmytro Mikhalev, a representative of the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine Commissioner for Human Rights in the Donetsk and Luhansk Regions, was held at Luhansk Taras Shevchenko National University on the topic “The role of the ombudsman in the protection of human rights during armed conflicts.”

During the lecture, the legal aspects of the activity of the Commissioner of the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine for human rights in the conditions of armed conflict, who exercises parliamentary control over the observance of the constitutional rights and freedoms of man and citizen in accordance with Article 101 of the Constitution of Ukraine and the Law of Ukraine “On the Commissioner of the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine for Human Rights, were analyzed in detail.  Special attention was paid to the protection of the rights of the civilian population, military personnel, prisoners and deportees in the context of human rights violations occurring in the war zone.

Dmytro Mykhalyov noted that the functioning of the Commissioner’s institute in the conditions of an armed conflict has its own specific challenges, in particular, related to limited access to the occupied territories, violations of international humanitarian law and the need to document war crimes in order to further bring the perpetrators to justice at the international level.

The lecturer also outlined the mechanisms for responding to the appeals of citizens who suffer from the consequences of the armed conflict, in particular, through monitoring visits, legal education activities and participation in international cooperation to ensure the protection of human rights.

The participants of the event actively asked questions about the specifics of the work of the representative of the Commissioner in Donetsk and Luhansk regions, which allowed to discuss the practical aspects of monitoring the observance of human rights and freedoms in war conditions. Dmytro Mykhalyov shared his experience of monitoring the legal situation in the region, and also focused on cooperation with international organizations and representatives of international humanitarian missions to ensure the protection of human rights in armed conflict. Such activity complies with international human rights standards, including the requirements of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, the Convention for the Protection of Human Rights and Fundamental Freedoms, as well as the provisions of international humanitarian law, in particular the Geneva Conventions.

Svitlana Vovk,
Vice-Rector for Scientific and Pedagogical Work