Kyiv, 26 October 2023 – Because of the full-scale war in Ukraine, national justice institutions are facing new challenges, including challenges related to the investigation of war crimes. Communication with survivors and witnesses requires new approaches and standards based on principles of non-violent communication and emotional intelligence. 

At the request of the Office of the Prosecutor General, the organization Just Group, supported by the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) in Ukraine and the Government of Japan, conducted an expert discussion focusing on the integration of investigative interviews into the investigation processes. The primary goal of the discussion was to identify essential steps that justice institutions need to take to implement investigative interviews, thereby enhancing the investigative process in Ukraine based on the principles of human rights. 

Andriy Kostin, Prosecutor General of Ukraine underlined the importance of integrating procedural interviews into all investigations. 

"Our primary goal is to ensure the integration of the practice of procedural interviews into the work of all law enforcement agencies. This involves creating a standardized approach based on the principles of respect for the freedoms and rights of every person, thereby contributing to the effectiveness of the entire justice system," noted Andriy Kostin.

Jaco Cilliers, UNDP Resident Representative in Ukraine, stressed that because of war, prosecutors and justice professionals find themselves at the forefront of complex war crimes investigations involving extensive interactions with survivors, witnesses, and suspects. 

“At UNDP, we fully support the unwavering commitment of the Office of the Prosecutor General to improve the overall quality of criminal investigations, rooted in the principles of emotional intelligence and a human-centered approach. This raises the bar for investigations and fosters trust in the justice system, which is paramount for the recovery of Ukraine, based on the principle of leaving no one behind,” underlined he.

The investigative interview is a method that is intended to collect the most objective information about the circumstances of the investigation. These methods were developed by investigators together with psychologists, and are built on the principles of nonviolent communication. A clear algorithm has been designed for preparing, conducting, and evaluating the interrogation, aimed at obtaining the most objective information about the circumstances of the event.

Following this discussion, at the initiative of the Office of the Prosecutor General, the Just Group, supported by UNDP and the Government of Japan, is launching a series of comprehensive training events for prosecutors and justice professionals engaged in the investigations of war crimes. The training programme is designed to enhance the expertise and investigative skills of justice professionals, and introduce emotional intelligence and human-centred approaches into investigative interviews.

Background information: 

Previously, UNDP supported training on psychological resilience for prosecutors and justice professionals. This training event is a sequential component of ongoing efforts to enhance professional and institutional capacities and resilience to promote access to justice for all. The discussion and training programme have been organized as part of the "Promotion of Human Security in Ukraine Through Responding to the Multidimensional Crisis Caused by the War" project implemented by UNDP and financed by the Government of Japan.

Media inquiries: Yuliia Samus, UNDP Ukraine Head of Communications; e-mail: yuliia.samus@undp.org