On June 13, we took part in the dialogue event “Victim-Centered Approach in Action: Voices of Survivors and Local Response Mechanisms,” organized by the International Organization for Migration (IOM) in Kyiv.
The head of our organization Igr Kotelianets, spoke during the panel discussion, emphasizing key issues in the state’s support system for released civilian detainees:

“Justice is not only about verdicts. It is about restoring dignity, acknowledging the harm suffered, and the obligation of the state and international community to go beyond symbolic support. Reparations are a test of the honesty and depth of our solidarity with survivors.”

In his speech, Ihor highlighted the following:

– The ineffectiveness of the interagency commission under the Ministry for Reintegration, which often unjustifiably denies recognition of unlawful detention, thereby preventing victims from receiving state assistance;
– The absence of a state-run rapid response program for those released from unlawful detention, especially for civilians who were freed not through formal exchanges but on their own initiative;
– The urgent need for a dedicated emergency support system that would provide legal, social, psychological, and medical assistance immediately after release;
– The importance of coordination and solidarity between NGOs working with victims: client referrals, resource sharing, and mutual strengthening instead of competition.

This dialogue reaffirmed a hard truth: without systemic change at the state level and strategic cooperation across civil society, the rights of released detainees will remain only on paper.

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