The Ukrainian Parliament Commissioner for Human Rights Dmytro Lubinets carried out his first official visit to the Council of Europe in Strasbourg on 30 January-1 February 2023. The discussions addressed the current challenges faced and the Council of Europe support in protecting human rights in the context of the on-going military aggression of the Russian Federation against Ukraine.

Commissioner Lubinets met with the Secretary General of the Council of Europe, Marija Pejčinović Burić. He also had bilateral exchanges with the President of the Parliament Assembly of the Council of Europe, Tiny Kox; Council of Europe Commissioner for Human Rights, Dunja Mijatović; Permanent Representative of Iceland, Ms Ragnhildur Arnljótsdóttir; Executive Secretary of the European Committee for the Prevention of Torture and Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment (CPT), Mr Régis Brillat; the judge of the European Court of Human Rights elected in respect of Ukraine, Mr Mykola Gnatovskyy.

Commissioner Lubinets held meetings with the representatives of the Directorate General Human Rights and Rule of Law, including the Department for the Implementation of Human Rights Standards, Justice and Legal Co-operation. The discussions focused on the co-operation in the field of human rights protection in the context of the on-going war, the role of the Ombudsperson’s Institution in addressing the challenges related to reporting of gross human rights violations, as well as further strengthening of the National Preventive Mechanism, including the creation of the rehabilitation mechanism for victims of ill-treatment and torture. Commissioner Lubinets expressed his gratitude for the successful co-operation and support of the Council of Europe.

Commissioner Lubinets specifically highlighted the issue of forced deportation of the Ukrainian children to the territory of the Russian Federation. To date, according to the Office of the Prosecutor General, 16011 Ukrainian children have been deported, 459 have died, and 918 have been injured. The Commissioner emphasised that Ukraine has already managed to bring home 126 children.

The visit was organised within the scope of the Council of Europe Projects “Supporting Implementation of the European Human Rights Standards in Ukraine”, “Internal Displacement in Ukraine: Building Solutions – Phase 2”, “Combatting violence against children in Ukraine - Phase III”.