On 3 April 2025, The Hague hosted an expert panel discussion entitled "Pathways to Reparations for the Missing Persons in Ukraine: Legal and Institutional Responses", jointly organised by the International Commission on Missing Persons (ICMP) and the Register of Damage for Ukraine.

The discussion brought together representatives of Ukrainian and international institutions, human rights defenders, and international law experts to explore legal and practical mechanisms for upholding the right of families of the missing to fair compensation.

In his remarks, Markiyan Kliuchkovskyi, Executive Director of the Register of Damage, emphasized:

“The right to compensation is not an abstraction – it is a vital necessity for victims. And this right also belongs to those impacted by the enforced disappearance of loved ones. That is why the creation of the Claim Category A2.2 – Disappearance of a Close Family Member – has been such an important milestone. In a short time, we have already received nearly 2,500 claims, which speaks both to the urgency of the issue and to the deep, widespread pain experienced by families across Ukraine.”

He also noted that the Register is working closely with national institutions, including the Commissioner for Persons Missing Under Special Circumstances and the Unified Register of Persons Missing Under Special Circumstances.

Artur Dobroserdov, the Commissioner for Persons Missing Under Special Circumstances, highlighted the importance of cooperation with international partners:

“Together with international partners, we have already implemented several important projects. Today, we are talking about the recently launched Category A2.2, which is open for claims in relation to mental pain and anguish caused by the disappearance of an immediate family member. Effective collaboration with the Register, especially on data verification, is essential for ensuring transparency and efficiency of the process, as well as for providing the claimants with the necessary evidence.”

Drawing on ICMP’s many years of experience working with families of the missing, ICMP Director-General Kathryne Bomberger noted in her address:

“Victims have a fundamental right to reparation for mental pain and anquish. Reparations must be adequate, effective, prompt, and proportionate to the gravity of the violations and the harm suffered. The establishment of the Claim Category A2.2 is essential. No form of compensation can erase the pain of loss, but this process opens the pathway for acknowledgement and redress.”

During the expert discussion, participants agreed that submission of claims in Category A2.2 is not only the first step towards compensation — it is also a vital act of acknowledging the suffering endured by the families of the missing. Each submitted claim contributes to ensuring accountability.

Alona Lunova, Advocacy Director at the ZMINA Human Rights Centre, stressed the importance of raising awareness among potential claimants and the readiness of civil society to assist in this mission:

“We are ready to help disseminate information about the Register, the new claim categories, and the rules for submitting claims, particularly at the regional level. We are also committed to being a reliable partner in addressing challenges that may arise — for example, how to ease the process for people in temporarily occupied territories and how to share information there about the Register’s procedures. We fully share the Register’s principles and understand the value of its mission, and we are prepared to provide all necessary support.”

About Claim Category A2.2

Category A2.2 is the third claim category opened for submissions to the Register. Claims can be submitted through the official Ukrainian e-governance portal Diia.

All necessary information regarding Category A2.2 — including the Claim Form, Submission Rules, FAQ section, and step-by-step instructions — is available on the Register’s website in both English and Ukrainian.