UNIS/OUS/442
3 June 2024

Re-issued as received

Call for submissions by UN Commission of Inquiry on Ukraine

Russian version (PDF) - Ukrainian version (PDF)

VIENNA, 3 June 2024 - The Independent International Commission of Inquiry on Ukraine invites individuals, groups and organizations to submit information and documentation relevant to its third mandate.

In particular, the Commission welcomes submissions directly from survivors, their relatives and witnesses, on the following issues:

• Torture and sexual and gender-based violence, against all persons, regardless of age and gender. In this context, we are interested to further understand how detention facilities, where torture was recurrent, were organized and which forces/services committed torture or gave orders to this effect.
• The impact on civilians, both immediate and long-term, of the attacks on energy infrastructure, in particular concerning health and education.

In order to preserve the security and confidentiality of the information submitted, it is recommended to submit through the specific email address created by the Commission for this purpose: ohchr-submission-coiukraine@un.org

For any questions, including on how to submit information in a different way, please contact the Commission at: coi-ukraine@un.org

Submissions can be sent by 1 August 2024.

The Commission attaches the utmost importance to the protection of sources, notably concerning the respect for confidentiality and the ‘do no harm’ principle in order not to jeopardize the life, safety, freedom and well-being of victims, witnesses and other cooperating persons. It will only disclose the identity of cooperating persons if there is an informed consent from them and will use the information provided in accordance with their stated wishes.

Please note that only cases alleging violations falling within the mandate of the Commission will be considered.

Background

The Commission was established by the UN Human Rights Council in March 2022 and is mandated to investigate violations and abuses of human rights, violations of international humanitarian law, and related crimes in the context of the Russian Federation’s aggression against Ukraine. Its mandate was extended by the Council on 4 April 2024 for a further period of one year.

The Commission is due to submit:

• a report to the General Assembly at its 79th session in October 2024

and

• a comprehensive report to the Human Rights Council at its 58th session in March 2025.