As part of International Law Week, held in New York during the 81st session of the United Nations General Assembly, State Secretary of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine Oleksandr Karasevych paid a working visit to United Nations Headquarters.

The visit focused on the development of international humanitarian law, ensuring the accountability of the Russian Federation for violations of international law, protecting the rights of victims of international crimes, strengthening the international legal order, and advancing Ukrainian initiatives at the United Nations.

The programme included participation in two international thematic events dedicated to the progressive development of international humanitarian law and safeguarding the rights of victims of Russian aggression, addresses at two open debates of the UN Security Council, and a series of bilateral meetings with senior UN officials and representatives of partner states.

On 27 October, the State Secretary participated in the international event “Protecting Human Dignity in Armed Conflict: The Work of the IHL Progressive Development Platform”, dedicated to the results of the Platform’s first year of work.

The event was organised by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine and the Permanent Mission of Ukraine to the United Nations, together with the diplomatic missions of Latvia, Lithuania, the United Kingdom, and Germany.

The Platform was launched in 2025 at the initiative of Minister of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine Andrii Sybiha. Today, it brings together around one hundred international experts, academics, and practitioners working to improve international humanitarian law across its human, environmental, and institutional dimensions.

State Secretary of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine Oleksandr Karasevych delivered the opening remarks.

The discussion was moderated by Anton Korynevych, Director of the Department of International Law and International Legal Counteraction to Aggression of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine.

Oleksandr Borysenko, Deputy Director of the Department of International Law and International Legal Counteraction to Aggression of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine and the Platform’s Coordinator, presented its structure and the key results of its first year of work.

Olena Khomenko, Member of the Parliament of Ukraine and Rapporteur of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe on the progressive development of IHL, highlighted the parliamentary dimension of the initiative.

Saba Pipia, Co-Chair of the Platform’s Working Group II and Professor at the Georgian American University, focused on missing persons and the protection of animals during armed conflicts.

Kateryna Rashevska, Legal Expert at the Regional Center for Human Rights, addressed the protection and return of Ukrainian children and efforts to counter Russian practices of militarisation and indoctrination.

James Holmes Armstead, Professor Emeritus at the US Naval War College, devoted his remarks to ecocide, while Nataliia Hendel, Leading Research Fellow at the Institute of Information, Security and Law of the National Academy of Legal Sciences of Ukraine, addressed improvements to mechanisms for ensuring compliance with international humanitarian law, particularly the institution of the Protecting Power.

The event brought together around 40 participants, including representatives of UN Member States, the International Committee of the Red Cross, and the legal and academic communities.

Ukraine emphasised that the progressive development of international humanitarian law must aim to strengthen protection for those affected by armed conflicts, eliminate legal uncertainty, and improve mechanisms for ensuring compliance with international legal norms, rather than weaken existing safeguards.

The Platform’s work will form the basis for a White Paper on the Progressive Development of International Humanitarian Law.

On 28 October, Oleksandr Karasevych participated in the international event “Victims in Accountability Mechanisms: Perspectives in the Context of the Aggression against Ukraine”.

The event was organised by the Ministries of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine and the Netherlands, the Council of Europe, the International Bar Association, and the International Renaissance Foundation, with co-sponsorship from Australia, the United Kingdom, Denmark, Estonia, Germany, Romania, Finland, France, Czechia, and Sweden.

The discussion focused on ensuring meaningful participation and representation of victims in the work of the Special Tribunal for the Crime of Aggression against Ukraine, as well as the role of the International Claims Commission for Ukraine in providing compensation for damage caused by Russian aggression.

Participants exchanged experiences from international tribunals and compensation commissions, paying particular attention to ensuring not only legal recognition of violations but also effective mechanisms for restoring victims’ rights.

In his closing remarks, State Secretary of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine Oleksandr Karasevych contributed to the discussion of the central principle that united the participants: victims of international crimes must be at the centre of international justice and compensation mechanisms.

On 27 October, the State Secretary addressed the UN Security Council’s open debate on the Women, Peace and Security agenda.

In his statement, Oleksandr Karasevych presented Ukraine’s practical experience in implementing UN Security Council resolution 1325 amid Russia’s full-scale aggression, including the adoption of the third National Action Plan for the period until 2030.

Particular attention was paid to accountability for war crimes and conflict-related sexual violence. Referring to a report by the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights, Ukraine highlighted documented cases of sexual violence committed by representatives of the Russian Federation and the need to hold those responsible accountable.

The State Secretary also emphasised the importance of supporting women’s civil society organisations, ensuring survivors’ access to justice and reparations, and securing women’s full participation in all processes aimed at achieving a comprehensive, just, and lasting peace for Ukraine.

On 29 October, Oleksandr Karasevych addressed the UN Security Council’s high-level open debate on “Emerging Technologies and Maritime Security: Implications for Peace and Security”.

His statement focused on the threats to international shipping posed by Russian aggression in the Black Sea, systematic attacks on Ukrainian port infrastructure and civilian vessels, and Russia’s use of its so-called shadow fleet to circumvent sanctions and conduct illegal maritime activities.

The State Secretary emphasised that, since the beginning of the full-scale invasion, more than 1,600 Ukrainian port infrastructure facilities had been damaged or partially destroyed, and more than 260 civilian vessels had been damaged. More than 95 attacks on vessels were recorded between June and September 2026 alone.

Ukraine called on the international community to strengthen sanctions against Russia’s shadow fleet, enhance international coordination to protect freedom of navigation, and ensure Russia’s accountability for attacks on civilian vessels and port infrastructure, as well as damage to the marine environment.

It was also emphasised that the security of Ukraine’s maritime export routes is directly linked to global food security, and that the development of emerging technologies does not absolve states of their obligation to comply with international law.

During the visit, the State Secretary also met with the President of the International Court of Justice, Iwasawa Yuji.

The parties discussed the role of the International Court of Justice in upholding the international legal order and its consideration of cases involving Ukraine. Oleksandr Karasevych reaffirmed Ukraine’s commitment to the peaceful settlement of international disputes and stressed the fundamental importance of compliance with the Court’s judgments as an integral part of respect for international law.

A meeting was held with UN Under-Secretary-General for Legal Affairs and United Nations Legal Counsel Elinor Hammarskjöld.

Particular attention was paid to developing bilateral cooperation with Singapore. In this context, Oleksandr Karasevych met with Singapore’s Minister for Law and Second Minister for Home Affairs, Edwin Tong.

🇺🇦 Ukraine continues to demonstrate that international law is not merely a system of principles and obligations, but also a set of concrete mechanisms for protecting human dignity, restoring justice, and ensuring accountability for the most serious international crimes.

The experience of countering Russian aggression presents the international community with complex legal questions, the answers to which will determine the effectiveness of the international legal order for decades to come.

That is why Ukraine not only insists on strict compliance with international law but also actively contributes to its progressive development, proposing solutions designed to make international legal norms more effective and the protection of human rights more robust.

A just and lasting peace is impossible without respect for international law, and international law cannot remain effective without accountability for its violations.