On 23 February 2026, a roundtable titled “Recommendations on the Specific Aspects of Investigating War Crimes against LGBTQI+ Persons” took place in Odesa. The event brought together journalists, civil society representatives, researchers, specialized lecturers, prosecutors, investigators, lawyers, and human rights defenders.
The event was organized by the NGO “PROJEKTOR” within the framework of a grant provided by the EU Project “Pravo-Justice,” implemented by Expertise France.
The purpose of the event was to develop practical recommendations for documenting and investigating war crimes committed against LGBTQI+ persons and other vulnerable groups, in line with international standards and the victim-centered approach in the context of armed conflict.
The opening remarks were delivered by Vitalii Matvieiev, lawyer and head of NGO “PROJEKTOR.” He emphasized the importance of systematically taking into account the specific nature of crimes committed against vulnerable groups and outlined the context of cooperation with the Office of the Prosecutor General and the Office of the Prosecutor of the International Criminal Court in the field of investigating international crimes.
During the session dedicated to the outcomes of the training cycle, experts presented key challenges and findings identified in the course of their work with law enforcement authorities and the legal community.
Karolina Palaichuk, lawyer, human rights defender, and board member of NGO “PROJEKTOR,” focused on the importance of a sensitive approach to victims and the prevention of re-traumatization.
Mykola Pashkovskyi, PhD in Law and Senior Researcher at the Academician V. V. Stashis Research Institute for the Study of Crime Problems of the National Academy of Legal Sciences of Ukraine, outlined the scientific and methodological aspects of qualifying war crimes and the challenges of evidence collection.
Vadym Barskyi, PhD in Law and Associate Professor at the Department of Civil Law Disciplines of the Odesa I. I. Mechnikov National University, analyzed issues of law enforcement practice and practical difficulties arising during the documentation of crimes in combat zones.
As part of the event, a practical guide on the specific features of documenting war crimes committed against LGBTQI+ persons was presented. Participants discussed its practical value for investigators, prosecutors, lawyers, and human rights defenders, as well as the possibilities of applying the developed recommendations in their daily work.
The discussion demonstrated a strong demand for further interagency cooperation, enhanced expert support, and the implementation of unified approaches to documenting crimes committed in wartime.
Following the roundtable, participants agreed to continue joint efforts to improve documentation and investigation practices in order to ensure effective justice and the protection of victims’ rights.
This publication was prepared by NGO “PROJEKTOR” within the framework of a grant provided by the EU Project “Pravo-Justice,” implemented by Expertise France. Its content is the sole responsibility of NGO “PROJEKTOR” and does not necessarily reflect the position of the European Union.
