Young Ukrainian lawyers are shaping new approaches to security and the restoration of justice by rethinking international law

Earlier this year, the nationwide law student competition “New Ukraine Through the Eyes of Young Lawyers” was launched, in which students propose their vision for a security treaty for Ukraine. The goal of our competition is to give young lawyers the opportunity to develop practical mechanisms for compensation and the restoration of justice after the war, as well as to prepare them to participate in international legal proceedings. This is a unique initiative that no one has undertaken before. In collaboration with leading legal and diplomatic institutions, and with the support of lawmakers and military experts, we have launched a platform that is intended to become an annual event. I won’t go into the details of this project again; you can find more information about it on many legal resources that covered its official presentation and progress.

But what makes this social initiative unique? Never before has the world faced circumstances that combine massive violations of international law, aggression against the civilian population, and the need to document evidence in real time. As a result, even international institutions are currently at a loss, lacking a clear methodology for operating under such conditions. The situation in Ukraine does not fit into the old templates and frameworks developed based on other international conflicts. It does not conform to the classical rules of international law and procedural standards that were previously in effect.

Today, young Ukrainian lawyers are demonstrating their knowledge of public international, humanitarian, and criminal law, and their work is helping to shape a new paradigm of international security and the restoration of justice. Young people often have an even deeper understanding of contemporary security conditions than previous generations, who witnessed governmental or global crises but did not live through the era of digital technology, modern methods of warfare, drones, and hybrid threats. They are growing up at a time when the demands of international institutions are often ignored by aggressive regimes, and traditional approaches to international law require rethinking.

That is precisely why the young lawyers participating in the competition are proposing specific international legal instruments today that can serve as the foundation for Ukraine’s post-war security. This includes security guarantees, mechanisms for compensation and satisfaction for the state and society, and does not limit Ukraine’s right to hold the perpetrators accountable in specialized international tribunals in the future.

The students’ work is, above all, of practical significance. It shapes new approaches to gathering evidence, documenting violations, and drafting documents that will serve as a guide for international courts and tribunals. The Security Treaty through the Eyes of Young Lawyers serves as the basis for future generations to lay the foundation for post-war Ukraine.

It is clear that this social platform will evolve: next year, students may work on other topics, such as the conditions for post-war elections and democratic processes in Ukraine. The platform offers great opportunities for young people and has the potential to become the Ukrainian equivalent of international academic initiatives such as Fulbright, engaging leading universities worldwide, donors, and foreign institutions.

We are now entering the final stage of the competition, which is scheduled to take place in mid-April. The top students will have the opportunity to participate in internships at leading law firms in Ukraine and at international institutions, including the International Criminal Court and its Office of the Prosecutor. This is already essential today for training practitioners in the fields of international law, international criminal justice, and security.

The Ukrainian case demonstrates that the old models of international law no longer work. The approach to evidence, mechanisms of punishment, and the restoration of justice must change, and young lawyers are the ones setting new standards and developing practical solutions for the modern world.