Coalition Reports

The City Where the War Began

This report aims to shed light on violations of human rights in Slovyansk and the restoration of peace in eastern Ukraine after 2014. The book is based on testimonies of civilians who witnessed violations of human rights or were affected by military hostilities in the city of Slovyansk from April to July 2014. The report analyzes the functioning of illegal prisons, persecution of residents for religious beliefs, minors’ involvement in armed groups, forced labor, and human trafficking in places of detention, as well as problems of shelling and mining of civil infrastructure. It also discusses the deployment of pro-Russian propaganda in the city, problems of access to medical care during the city’s capture, and the search for ways to reconcile after the Ukrainian government regained control over Slovyansk

The Real Price of Coal in the Wartime Donbas: a Human Rights Perspective

This publication presents results of a study conducted by the Eastern-Ukrainian Center for Civic Initiatives in cooperation with partner organizations from the Coalition of human rights organizations and initiatives “Justice for Peace in Donbas” with support of the Heinrich Boell Foundation’s Office in Ukraine. The aim of the study was to create conditions for a wide public discussion about the actual economic, environmental and social consequences of coal mining in Donbas during the war. The study is based on information collected during a monitoring visit to the territories of Luhansk and Donetsk regions controlled by Ukrainian government, expert interviews and information received from the state authorities and open sources. Analysis of collected data shows multiple violations of social, labor and environmental rights, restricted possibilities for self-fulfillment available to local citizens, especially women, as well as lack of inclusiveness in economic institutes in the region. Authors of this report recommend a number of measures aimed to solve the key issues resulting from the coal industry’s activities and create conditions for gradual transition to renewable energy sources.

CRIMES WITHOUT PUNISHMENT: Human Rights Violations in the Context of the Armed Conflict in Eastern Ukraine

This report was produced by the NGO Eastern-Ukrainian Centre for Civic Initiatives in cooperation with the Dnipro-based “Sich” Human Rights Group and Kyiv-based Civic Committee for the Protection of Constitutional Rights and Civil Liberties. The report was compiled within the framework of the project “Monitoring Human Rights in the Donbas - Empowering CSOs in Documenting the Conflict in Eastern Ukraine” implemented by the Warsaw-based Helsinki Foundation for Human Rights in cooperation with the organization members of the “Justice for Peace in Donbas” Coalition and with the financial support of the National Endowment for Democracy. The views expressed in this publication do not necessarily reflect the views of the members of the Justice for Peace in Donbas Coalition, the Helsinki Foundation for Human Rights (Warsaw) or the National Endowment for Democracy

Imprisoned in the “LPR Government” Building

Analytical report concerns one of the many illegal detention facilities established in Luhansk oblast during the armed conflict in Donbas. The facility was located in the former Luhansk Oblast Administration at 3, Heroiv Velykoi Vitchyznianoi Viiny Square. The report is based on 19 interviews with former detainees held at the “LPR government building” by the representatives of the self-proclaimed republic.

Making life go on: how the war in Donbas affects civilians

This report aims to shed light on the problems with which civilians in Eastern Ukraine struggled as a consequence of the armed conflict in the region. The main problems stem from the frequent shelling of towns and villages, from widespread lawlessness that led to the illegal imprisonment of thousands of people. Problems also occur because the belligerent parties position their weapons in densely populated areas and because medical assistance is difcult to access along the contact line. This edited volume contains an analysis of Ukrainian and international legislation and an analysis of the effects of armed conflict on civilian life in Donbas. The authors have also formulated recommendations for governmental and non-governmental organizations within and beyond Ukraine.

War without Rules: Gender-Based Violence in the Context of the Armed Conflict in Eastern Ukraine

This study was developed to cover the situation involving gender-based violence associated with the conflict in eastern Ukraine. The report provides an overview of national legislation and international legal norms and highlights gaps in the legal framework, shortcomings in the collection and compilation of statistics, different forms of violence in the armed conflict, as well as the impact of the conflict on the prevalence of gender-based violence in territorial communities located away from the conflict area. The study focuses on an analysis of sexual and gender-based violence in illegal detention facilities created by illegal armed groups in the self-proclaimed Luhansk People’s Republic and Donetsk People’s Republic, as well as by the Ukrainian military and members of volunteer armed groups in the context of the armed conflict in eastern Ukraine.

Submission fro the Coalition "Justice for Peace in Donbas" to the UPR, 3d cycle

The submission includes eight key issues related to the observance of human rights in Ukraine in connection with the armed conflict in Donbas. The analysis is conducted by the public organizations "East-Ukrainian Center for Civic Initiatives", Vostok-SOS Charitable Foundation, Luhansk Regional Human Rights Center "Alternative" and NGO "Mirny Bereg" within the framework of cooperation in the Coalition of NGOs and "Justice for Peace in Donbass" initiatives. The following topics are included in the submission: - Places of illegal detention created as a consequence of armed conflict; - Sexual violence related to the conflict in Eastern Ukraine; - Involvement / recruitment of children to armed formations; - Missing persons due to armed conflict; - Bombardment of medical institutions in the area of armed conflict; - Restrictions on freedom of movement within the Donetsk and Luhansk oblasts as a result of the conflict; - Observance of the right to social protection of persons residing in the temporarily uncontrolled territory of Ukraine; - Influence of war on the state of observance of social and economic rights of inhabitants of mining towns and settlements in the zone of armed conflict.

Surviving hell

This publication is a result of a monitoring study conducted by the Coalition of public organizations and initiatives “Justice for Peace in Donbas” in close cooperation with the Ukrainian Parliamentary Commissioner for Human Rights. The goal of the study was to document gross violations of human rights in relation to illegal detention in the armed conflict area in Eastern Ukraine.

Freedom of movement

Freedom of movement in Eastern Ukraine. Crossing the contact line in Donetsk and Luhansk regions. This brief paper is carried out by the charitable foundation "East-SOS"

Involvement of children in armed formations during the military conflict in Donbas

This brief paper is carried out by the Eastern-Ukrainian centre for civic initiatives

Human rights violations in the LNR/DNR

Legislation and practice. This brief paper is carried out by the civil organization «Kharkiv human rights protection group»

Social rights in Donbas

This brief paper is carried out by the charitable foundation "East-SOS"

Missing persons

Problems with regulation of the legal status of persons missing during the armed conflict in Ukraine. This brief paper is carried out by the charitable foudation "East-SOS"

Health care facilities in the ATO zone

This brief paper is carried out by the Luhansk Regional Human Rights Center “Alternative”

Executed and tortured in Donbas

Arbitrary and extrajudicial killings, torture, enforced disappearances, and arbitrary detentions. This brief paper is carried out by «Mirniy bereg» (Shore of peace)

Unspoken pain. Gender-based violence in the conflict zone of Eastern Ukaine (in French)

The updated version of the report on gender-based violence in the conflict zone of eastern Ukraine carried out by the Eastern-Ukrainian Center for Civil Initiatives.

Destructions in Donbas

Scale, attempts at reconstruction and perspectives for redress for victims. This report is carried out by Luhansk Regional Human Rights Center “Alternative”

Places of illegal detention

Places of illegal detention in Eastern Ukraine during the military conflict. This brief paper is carried out the by Eastern-Ukrainian centre for civic initiatives

Submission on the list of issues concerning Ukraine to the CEDAW Committee 66th session

The following submission concerns Ukraine, and specifically focuses on the situation of women in the conflict zone in eastern Ukraine. The updated report was prepared by the Eastern-Ukrainian Centre for Civic Initiatives (EUCCI), which coordinates monitoring of gender-based violence (“GBV”) in the conflict zone, and the Helsinki Foundation for Human Rights (HFHR), which coordinated the submission process.

Unspoken pain. Gender-based violence in the conflict zone of Eastern Ukaine

The updated version of the report on gender-based violence in the conflict zone of eastern Ukraine carried out by the Eastern-Ukrainian Center for Civil Initiatives.