Kyiv, 24 October 2023 — Amid the war in Ukraine, national justice institutions are facing mounting pressure and unprecedented challenges that require dedicated work and concentration. Prosecutors are finding themselves at the forefront of complex investigations into war crimes, necessitating extensive interaction with survivors, witnesses, and suspects. This demanding workload often leads to burnout and psychological exhaustion.

At the request of the Office of the Prosecutor General, the organization JustGroup supported by United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) in Ukraine and the Government of Japan conducted training sessions on psychological resilience and self-help for heads of teams tasked with investigating war crimes. 

Svitlana Kolyshko, UNDP in Ukraine Human Rights and Access to Justice Project Manager, emphasized the critical role of effective and resilient justice institutions in times of conflict.

“The war has triggered many new challenges, and to effectively confront them new knowledge and skills are essential. These training sessions are designed to equip participants with practical and effective tools to combat exhaustion, manage stress, and recognize the early signs of burnout,” said Svitlana Kolyshko. 

Yurii Belousov, Head of the Office of the Prosecutor General’s Department for Combating Crimes Committed During Armed Conflict also stressed the importance of such initiatives.

“Since the onset of the full-scale conflict, we have successfully established a robust system comprising highly skilled professionals dedicated to the investigation of war crimes. Our human resources are our most invaluable asset, and given the demanding operational conditions, we are steadfast in our commitment to prioritizing the psychological well-being of our prosecutors,” he said. 

Representatives from the organization JustGroup underline that these training sessions are a sequential component of their ongoing efforts to enhance professional and institutional capacities and resilience to promote access to justice for all.

In addition to this, UNDP and the Government of Japan are continuing to support a comprehensive series of training events targeting representatives of the National Police, the Prosecutor's Office, free legal aid centres, social services, and the office of the Ukrainian Parliament Commissioner for Human Rights to foster access to justice for all. The overall objective of these initiative is to enhance the capacities of the justice system and service providers to effectively identify and respond to war crimes, including cases of conflict-related sexual violence (CRSV), and to upgrade their knowledge of national and international justice, sensitive communication, and the specifics of investigation and effective coordination. 

For media enquiries, please contact Yuliya Samus, Head of Communications, UNDP Ukraine, via email at yuliia.samus@undp.org.