Geneva, Dr. Morris Tidball-Binz, the UN Special Rapporteur on extrajudicial, summary, or arbitrary executions, is scheduled to visit Ukraine from May 20 to May 31, 2024, following an invitation from the Ukrainian government. The visit aims to investigate unlawful deaths associated with the ongoing armed conflict, including extrajudicial killings and gender-based violence.

According to Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights, during his visit, Tidball-Binz will evaluate how Ukraine investigates unlawful deaths and how it upholds the rights of victims and their families to truth, justice, and reparation. His assessment will focus on a victim-centered approach, emphasizing the need for effective legislative and institutional frameworks to prevent and investigate these deaths.

The Special Rapporteur plans to meet with a range of stakeholders, including state authorities, national and international investigative bodies, civil society organizations, and directly with victims and their families. These discussions aim to gauge the implementation of recommendations issued from his mandate’s previous visit in 2015 and identify areas needing further attention.

Tidball-Binz will conclude his visit with a press conference on May 31, 2024, at the Hyatt Regency Hotel in Kyiv, where he will brief the media on his preliminary findings. Access to this event will be strictly limited to journalists.

The comprehensive report detailing the findings from his mission will be presented at the 59th session of the UN Human Rights Council in June 2025, where it will contribute to ongoing discussions about human rights and conflict resolution in Ukraine.