On March 23, 2026, a roundtable titled “Recommendations on the Specifics of Investigating Crimes Committed against LGBTIQ+ Persons in the Context of Armed Conflict” took place in Kyiv. The event brought together journalists, civil society representatives, researchers, specialized lecturers, prosecutors, investigators, lawyers, and human rights defenders.
Among the participants were representatives of the Office of the Prosecutor General, the Supreme Court (Criminal Cassation Court), the EU Advisory Mission in Ukraine, and human rights organizations.
The event was organized by the NGO PROJECTOR within the framework of a grant provided by the EU Project “Pravo-Justice,” implemented by Expertise France. This roundtable marked the final event of the project.
The purpose of the event was to develop practical recommendations for documenting and investigating crimes committed against LGBTIQ+ persons and other vulnerable groups, taking into account international standards and a victim-centered approach in the context of armed conflict.
The opening remarks were delivered by Vitalii Matvieiev, a lawyer and head of the NGO PROJECTOR. He emphasized the importance of systematically addressing 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 ICC Prosecutor in the field of investigating international crimes.
During a session dedicated to the outcomes of the training cycle, experts presented key challenges and findings identified in the course of working with law enforcement representatives and the legal community.
Karolina Palaichuk, a lawyer, human rights defender, and board member of the NGO PROJECTOR, 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. Stashys 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 Odesa I. I. Mechnikov National University, analyzed issues of law enforcement and practical difficulties arising during the documentation of crimes in combat zones.
As part of the event, a practical guide on documenting war crimes committed against LGBTIQ+ persons was presented. Participants discussed its practical value for investigators, prosecutors, lawyers, and human rights defenders, as well as the potential for applying the developed recommendations in 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 conditions.
Following the roundtable, participants agreed to continue joint efforts to improve practices in documentation and investigation in order to ensure effective justice and the protection of victims’ rights.
This publication was prepared by the NGO PROJECTOR within the framework of a grant provided by the EU Project “Pravo-Justice,” implemented by Expertise France. Its content is the sole responsibility of the NGO PROJECTOR and does not necessarily reflect the views of the European Union.