Since Russia launched its full-scale invasion of Ukraine, The Docket has been gathering evidence of war crimes and crimes against humanity, to trigger criminal prosecutions and bring justice to the survivors.
The Docket is investigating war crimes and crimes against humanity and helping victims get justice.
Our team documented indiscriminate attacks that killed civilians and destroyed civilian objects, as well as violations committed by Russian armed forces, during the occupation of Ukrainian towns and villages, including executions, enforced disappearances, torture, sexual violence, looting, and other crimes.
The Docket’s team on the ground in Ukraine is working with local and international partners to gather evidence and identify survivors and witnesses of these crimes. Our experts collect, store, and analyse open-source evidence, including satellite imagery, video, photo and audio materials, and social media content.
Working with Ukrainian and international partners, The Docket is gathering irrefutable evidence of the crimes being committed in Ukraine to present an iron-clad case to prosecutors. Any doubt could allow perpetrators to escape accountability and deny justice to victims.
Legal Director of The Docket Initiative
The Docket is gathering evidence to trigger prosecutions of the perpetrators of international crimes committed in Ukraine in multiple countries around the world under the principle of universal jurisdiction.
We focus on the following patterns of violations:
- Attacks with the use of explosive weapons, cluster munitions, thermobaric weapons, and other indiscriminate means of warfare when used in densely populated areas.
- Violations by Russian ground forces, including executions, enforced disappearances, torture, and sexual violence.
- Sieges of cities and towns.
We represent and support survivors to ensure their meaningful participation in the criminal justice process. We support the efforts of the Office of the Prosecutor of the International Criminal Court and Ukraine’s Office of the Prosecutor General.
On October 26, 2023, The Docket filed three cases with German federal prosecutors, requesting an investigation into alleged war crimes and crimes against humanity committed in Ukraine. The organization submitted detailed dossiers against the alleged perpetrators and is representing 16 survivors and families of victims. One of the cases was filed jointly with CFJ’s long-standing partner, Ukrainian NGO Truth Hounds.
These Ukrainians civilians have suffered unthinkable violence, but now they are no longer victims—they chose to fight for justice, and we will be with them every step of the way.
Universal Jurisdiction
Under the principle of universal jurisdiction, perpetrators of the most serious international crimes - including genocide, war crimes, and crimes against humanity - can be investigated and prosecuted in foreign national jurisdictions even when the crime did not occur there.
The Docket has carried out extensive research to identify countries where cases can be brought on behalf of Ukrainian survivors under the principle of universal jurisdiction.
These efforts culminated in our 2023 launch of the Justice Beyond Borders (JBB) Project
JBB is an online mapping tool that shows how existing laws around the world can be used to obtain justice for the most serious international crimes. In countries where such laws exist, we have been working to trigger and support criminal investigations and support survivors in their pursuit of justice.
Equally, we support the efforts of the International Criminal Court, which opened an investigation into alleged crimes in the context of the war in Ukraine, and the Ukrainian Office of the Prosecutor General, which has now opened new investigations into thousands of cases.
Did you know
Anyone can use our Justice Beyond Borders mapping tool to find out how different countries can use their laws to wage justice for the world’s most serious international crimes.
The idea of universal jurisdiction is about making sure that, for the most horrendous crimes, regardless of where they have been committed regardless of, where the perpetrators are, regardless of where the victims come from, there is justice.
Legal Director of The Docket Initiative
