IVLP Program brings Ukrainian Delegation to Charlottesville

What does it look like, through the justice system, to pursue peace?

Is criminal law always part of the equation to keep our communities and countries whole after conflict?

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These questions highlight key themes of discussion during our most recent program, which welcomed four government and NGO leaders from Ukraine through the International Visitor Leadership Program (IVLP). Visitors’ time at the Presidential Precinct came just days after the U.S. midterm elections, a fitting sequence for this program, named “Advocacy of Democratic Principles.”

Our four guests, along with their interpreter liaisons, met with community partners from the UVA Center for Politics, the Karsh Institute of Law and Democracy’s Sound Justice Lab, and the Equity Center at UVA before continuing on to a tour and discussion of Thomas Jefferson’s Monticello.

At the Center for Politics, visitors recorded a podcast to share their direct perspectives on the ongoing war in Ukraine. The episode, titled ‘This is a war on democracy and democratic principles’, covered ongoing realities in Ukraine, including the impacts of the war on youth, and key steps that those of us in the U.S. can take to support Ukraine.

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“It’s the war of Russia against the democratic world, and Ukraine just happened to be in the forefront.”

– Liubov Rakovytsia, COO, Donetsk Institute of Information; IVLP Visitor and Presidential Precinct Alumna

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Later that same day, Professors Anne Coughlin and Nelson Camilo Sánchez León led a compelling discussion on methods of justice and paths forward for Ukraine and its global allies. Professor Coughlin is the Co-Director of the Sound Justice Lab, and Professor Sánchez is the Director of UVA Law’s International Human Rights Clinic.

This time at the Law School centered primarily around the concept of “transitional justice”, defined by the UN as “the full range of processes and mechanisms associated with a society’s attempt to come to terms with a legacy of large-scale past conflict, repression, violations and abuses, in order to ensure accountability, serve justice and achieve reconciliation.”

Considering the role that transitional justice can play in the future progress of Ukraine, visitors had an opportunity to learn by case study – first about the deadly ‘Unite the Right’ rally that occurred in Charlottesville during the summer of 2017 and consider some of the successful and unsuccessful attempts at justice and healing seen in Charlottesville since. Professor Sánchez also shared some key takeaways from the 1985 Trial of the Juntas in Argentina. This trial, according to a recent article by the Guardian, “is considered one of the most significant in modern history, and is the only time a democratic government has launched a large-scale judicial assault on a country’s former dictatorial rulers.”

Though different parties in the room brought with them different contexts for discussion, everyone concluded the day with a strong sense of shared purpose in the pursuit of justice and thriving, democratic communities worldwide. Few opportunities could be better aligned with the Presidential Precinct’s mission, and we are grateful for this opportunity to support and learn from our Ukrainian friends.

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“It’s important for people in both countries [the U.S. and Ukraine] to know each other and understand each other. That’s why we are here.”

– Sabina Iliasova, Project Coordinator, Crimea SOS; IVLP Visitor and Presidential Precinct Alumna