Associate Professor Mykola Pashkovsky and Professor Boris Babin, scientific advisors to Barristers, LLC, participated in a roundtable discussion titled “International Standards for Ensuring the Right to Security and Personal Integrity.”

Associate Professor Mykola Pashkovsky and Professor Boris Babin, scientific advisors to Barristers LLC, participated in a roundtable discussion titled “International Standards for Ensuring the Right to Security and Personal Integrity,” held at the Institute of Legislation of the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine.

During the event, participants discussed standards of international humanitarian law and human rights, as well as the practices of the International Criminal Court, UN treaty bodies, and the European and Inter-American Courts of Human Rights regarding combating enforced disappearances and locating missing persons.

The roundtable was attended by representatives of the Security Service of Ukraine (SBU), the National Police, the Ministry of Social Policy, the Office of the Ombudsman, and parliamentary bodies, as well as leading scholars.

Discussions on Ukrainian legislation and its application in this area revealed a number of systemic shortcomings. In particular, issues remain unresolved regarding the correct classification of enforced disappearances under Articles 146, 146-1, and 438 of the Criminal Code, as well as the designation of an effective investigative body for these crimes when they are committed by law enforcement officials.

Unresolved issues were noted regarding the 2018 Law “On the Legal Status of Persons Missing Persons,” specifically regarding its inconsistency with social legislation, social security for the families of victims of enforced disappearances, and the Cabinet of Ministers’ failure to establish the Commission and Registry required by law.

The consequences of Ukraine’s delay in submitting its report to the UN Committee on Enforced Disappearances and the work of the relevant UN Working Group in Ukraine were discussed.

Leading experts from the Institute, headed by Director and Academician Oleksandr Kopylenko and Department Head, Professor Olena Hrynenko, will, based on the results of the discussion and the proposals made, draft recommendations for the relevant government agencies regarding the improvement of legislation and its implementation, and submit them to the authorized authorities.