The Council of Europe Commissioner for Human Rights, Michael O’Flaherty, published today a memorandum on human rights elements for peace in Ukraine, following his visit to the country in March 2025.

While the prospects of peace in Ukraine currently remain uncertain, the Commissioner notes that a just, lasting and effective peace can only be achieved by anchoring it in the international human rights framework. The memorandum promotes the integration of human rights in peace negotiations by combining the perspectives of both human rights advocates and conflict resolution practitioners. To that end, the memorandum sets out the Commissioner’s observations and recommendations regarding elements of a human rights roadmap for achieving just, lasting and effective peace, as well as Ukraine’s reconstruction and recovery.

 Read the Commissioner's Memorandum on human rights elements for peace in Ukraine