Background

At the invitation of the Government of Ukraine, the UN Special Rapporteur on Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment, Dr. Alice Jill Edwards, is scheduled to conduct an official country visit to Ukraine from 4 to 15 September 2023.

The main focus on the Special Rapporteur’s country-visit will primarily include:

1. the procedures and practices of investigation and prosecution of crimes of torture and other cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment committed within the context of the armed conflict, including rape and other sexual violence;
2. the treatment and conditions of detention, including of prisoners of war, persons accused of war crimes and/or those otherwise facing charges in the context of the conflict.

The Special Rapporteur will start her visit in Kyiv. She also intends to travel to other locations. During the visit, she will hold meetings with representatives of the Government, international organizations, including entities of the United Nations, civil society, non-governmental organizations, victims and their families.

At the end of the mission, the Special Rapporteur will debrief the Government on her preliminary findings and, in line with the established practice, she will also hold a press conference to share those preliminary findings with the broader public. Additional information on the time and the venue of the press conference will be shared in the coming weeks.

The expert will present a report on the country visit to the UN Human Rights Council’s in March 2024.

In preparation of the country visit, the Special Rapporteur would be grateful to receive relevant information from all interested stakeholders on issues related to the absolute prohibition of torture and other cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment within the current context in Ukraine, and specifically on the country’s a) duty to investigate allegations of and prosecute cases of torture and other cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment; and b) the obligations in relation to the treatment of prisoners of war.