Following the Russian invasion of Crimea in 2014, the war in Donbas, and the full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022, Ukrainian society is grappling with the profound and lasting effects of the conflict on its people. Traumas manifest in various ways, encompassing direct exposure to combat; occupation; displacement; war-related casualties and injuries; mental distress; abuse, torture, and sexual violence; abduction (especially of children); the loss of family members and orphaning; persistent threats of bombing of civilians; economic hardship; and more.
While substantial efforts have been devoted to outlining blueprints for the reconstruction of Ukraine in areas such as production, education, health, infrastructure, energy, and trade, the success of these initiatives hinges significantly on the effective support provided by human rights organizations and institutions to enable the active participation of all members of Ukrainian society.
In a collaborative research and publication project, the Shattuck Center raises the topics of rebuilding Ukraine and the conditions, necessities, and imperatives of a human rights- and democracy-informed reconstruction. Bringing together perspectives of academics, human rights scholars, and policy practitioners on and from Ukraine, we scrutinize how to best contribute to a democratic and resilient human rights-based Ukrainian society in the long run.
Considering technical-infrastructural, social, economic, political, and psychological dimensions of rebuilding, our aim is to stimulate discussions on principles, milestones, and concrete steps for the future democratic, human rights-based Ukrainian society and state. This involves a cross-disciplinary approach, encompassing aspects of economics and political economy, political science, public policy, organizational theory, and other social sciences, as well as the practical elements related to post-conflict management and reconciliation. We bring together Ukrainian and international perspectives and experiences, be it by co-authorship or by having different approaches analyzing similar topics through different lenses.