Promoting rights of civilian prisoners: cooperation for freedom of expression

The National Union of Journalists of Ukraine (NUJU) continues its cooperation with the International Commission on Missing Persons (ICMP) within the framework of the project titled Promoting The Rights Of Civilian Prisoners And Their Relatives Through The Communication Of Personal Stories And Legal Analysis Of Problems an investigation into the illegal detention of Ukrainian journalists will be implemented.

Since the beginning of the war, the problem of missing persons and illegally detained persons, including journalists, has become critical. Journalists are often targeted for exposing war crimes and spreading the truth. Families of the missing find themselves in information isolation and without proper support. The project is designed to draw attention to the problem through research, investigation, and advocacy while supporting families and promoting the release of prisoners.

At least 30 journalists are currently missing, and the fate of many of them remains unclear. The return of media representatives’ home is a complex and lengthy process, so it is extremely important to constantly remind society of the need to find and release illegally detained civilians and journalists.

The key participants in the project will be the relatives of missing journalists and civilians. Their stories and testimonies will form a public resonance and influence the decisions of state and international institutions. These are families who have experienced the loss of contact with loved ones, being in a state of prolonged stress and uncertainty. Thanks to their participation in the project, they will receive legal support and be able to share their experiences at advocacy events, inspiring other families to act in similar situations.

The project will analyze the situation regarding prisoners and missing people and formulate recommendations for relevant state bodies. The journalistic investigation will collect information from the testimonies of relatives, authorities, and eyewitnesses to create a more complete picture of the fate of detained journalists. The initiative is designed to strengthen the influence of the Ukrainian authorities and the international community for the earliest possible release of civilian prisoners.

The NUJU believes that through partnership, the voices of families, and transparent coverage of human rights violations, we will be able not only to help return illegally detained journalists’ home but also to strengthen mechanisms for protecting freedom of speech and human dignity in wartime.

For details and clarifications, please get in touch with Valeriya Parkhomenko, curator of the project Promoting The Rights Of Civilian Prisoners And Their Relatives Through The Communication Of Personal Stories And Legal Analysis Of Problems at the e-mail address [email protected].

This project was made possible thanks to the financial support of the ICMP at the expense of NORAD – the Norwegian Agency for Development Cooperation for the ICMP Program in Ukraine. The views expressed in this publication are those of the authors. They should not be attributed to the ICMP, its donors, or participating States.