Yesterday in Kyiv, the European Union and Ukraine held the ninth Human Rights Dialogue. Both parties remain committed to continuing their annual dialogue, despite the ongoing full-scale armed aggression by Russia against Ukraine and will continue their active efforts to prevent and address any human rights violations, including in the temporarily occupied and in the liberated territories of Ukraine.

The parties recalled the historical decisions of the European Council to grant Ukraine candidate status in June 2022 and to open accession negotiations in December 2023 and acknowledged that guaranteeing human rights is an essential element of the Copenhagen criteria.

The parties discussed violations of international human rights and humanitarian law violations by Russian Federation in the context of Russia's full-scale invasion and war of aggression. Those include inhumane treatment of prisoners of war, arbitrary deprivation of life and detention, enforced disappearances, torture and ill-treatment, deportation of civilians (including children) to Russia and Belarus from the territories occupied by Russia, conflict related sexual violence, and discrimination and persecution of Indigenous peoples.

The parties paid special attention to the impacts of Russia's war of aggression on the rights to health, work, education, water and sanitation, and adequate housing. Discussions focused on the massive destruction, losses and damages to infrastructure directly affecting the provision of basic services related to the enjoyment of human rights. They stressed the importance of international support to an inclusive reconstruction and recovery of Ukraine.

Both sides expressed concerns regarding the deterioration of the situation in the temporarily occupied areas by Russia. In particular, the parties discussed forced disappearances and torture, restrictions on civic and political rights, especially forcing Ukrainian citizens to change citizenship and/or obtain a Russian passport, restrictions on the freedom of expression, freedom of the media, freedom of assembly, freedom of religion or belief, forced conscription, as well as restrictions on access for international and non-governmental organisations.

During the dialogue, the EU and Ukraine expressed their commitment to ensuring full accountability for international crimes committed in the context of Russia's war of aggression against Ukraine, including through the establishment of the Special Tribunal for the crime of aggression. There were also exchanges on some specific points such as support to the investigations of the International Criminal Court and aligning international cooperation in the investigation and prosecution processes, victim-centered and trauma sensitive responses, the establishment of a registry of damages and of a compensation mechanism. In this context, the EU reiterated the importance of the ratification by Ukraine of the Rome Statute of the International Criminal Court.

Furthermore, discussions also revolved around policy developments in human rights, with a focus on the 2023 enlargement report recommendations. The EU welcomed Ukraine's efforts in fulfilling accession criteria, notably the stability of institutions guaranteeing democracy, the rule of law, human rights, notwithstanding the ongoing war. Specific areas of discussion included law enforcement reform, prevention of torture and ill-treatment, labour rights, freedoms of expression, association and assembly, the elections and electoral framework, rights of persons with disabilities and persons belonging to ethnic, linguistic, religious, and national minorities, gender equality and the rights of the child. The EU encouraged Ukraine to adopt legislation to address hate crimes and assure equality of rights of LGBTI persons and to undertake further steps to align legislation and policy with the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with disabilities. Ukraine was encouraged to continue reforming the child protection system in order to align with EU acquis. In addition, the parties agree on the need to ensure the individual safety of journalists and their ability to exercise their right to freedom of expression including under martial law.

The dialogue was marked by an atmosphere of cooperation and a common aspiration for progressive and decisive steps in the field of human rights.

• The next meeting of the human rights dialogue between Ukraine and the EU is expected to take place in 2025.

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