The current international peace system is outdated and ineffective, says Oleksandra Matviichuk, a Ukrainian human rights lawyer and 2022 Nobel Peace Prize co-recipient.
Speaking in London last week to highlight the urgent need for justice and accountability, she said “We are witnessing the collapse of the world order before our eyes.”
She told this site, “The current international peace system is outdated and ineffective in holding perpetrators accountable. I have spoken with hundreds of survivors of Russian captivity, and their stories are horrific. Torture is a daily routine; it has become institutionalised.”
“The world must recognise that justice delayed is justice denied, and without credible security guarantees and sustained sanctions, this violence will continue unchecked.”
Matviichuk spoke at the UK Houses of Parliament and the Institut Français during her visit.
She made an urgent call to for what she calls “international justice for Ukrainians and rigorous sanctions against the perpetrators of war crimes.”
Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, she says the war “continues to raise urgent questions about justice, accountability, and the responsibility of democratic nations to act.”
Since Russia invaded Ukraine in February 2022, Ukrainian prosecutors say they have documented more than 88,000 war crimes committed by Russian forces.
“However, despite documented evidence, the perpetrators of human rights violations are going unpunished,” says Matviichuk.
“In addition, the deteriorating conditions in occupied territories often get overlooked.”
Speaking about the urgent need to protect civilians who remain in occupied territories and the importance of security guarantees in any peace deal, Matviichuk said, “I have spoken with hundreds of survivors of Russian captivity, and their stories are horrific — beatings, sexual violence, fingers cut off, electric shocks to their genitals. Torture is a daily routine; it has become institutionalised. The world must recognise that justice delayed is justice denied, and without credible security guarantees and sustained sanctions, this violence will continue unchecked.”
She asserts that the post-World War II slogan never again is outdated and no longer reflects reality.
She said, “Evil is back, and as a human rights lawyer, I would like to ask a simple question: How are we, those living in the 21st century, going to protect people, their lives, their freedom, and their human dignity? Can we rely on the law? Or is brute force the only way?”
She warned that the decades of relative peace and sustainable development are over, even for Western societies.
As part of her UK visit, Matviichuk introducedThe Ukraine Shortlist, a new platform developed in collaboration with frontline humanitarian groups to connect individuals and institutions with trusted, high-impact organisations. This initiative meets growing public demand for transparency, trust, and effectiveness in humanitarian giving.
She also supports Insulate Ukraine, a grassroots effort that has installed over 45,000 low-cost, shatterproof windows since January 2023, helping restore safety and warmth to homes, schools, and hospitals along the frontline while creating essential jobs in communities devastated by war.
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The Author, Oleksandra Matviichuk, is a Ukrainian human rights lawyer and 2022 Nobel Peace Prize co-recipient.
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