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Global Rights Compliance

Global Rights Compliance GRC is an international law foundation dedicated to promoting accountability through the application of international law. OC388087.

Through our partnerships with governments, businesses and civil society, we strive to strengthen legal systems to achieve justice Global Rights Compliance provides a range of confidential legal advice and consultative expertise to business enterprises, government, other public bodies and individuals on international human rights law, international criminal law and international trade and developme

nt. We have conducted a range of on-the-ground human rights due diligence work in Bosnia and Herzegovina, Canada, the Caribbean, Croatia, Democratic Republic of Congo, Côte d'Ivoire, France, Mali, Mexico, Nigeria, Rwanda, Serbia, Sierra Leone, United Kingdom, United States, and Zimbabwe for businesses, governments, public bodies and individuals. We provide comprehensive, accurate and time-sensitive advice to promote the UN Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights and to ensure that business and human rights work together to ensure commercial advantage and the protection of fundamental rights in a globalized world. Global Rights Compliance is an international legal partnership committed to human rights due diligence. It specialises in working with businesses and governments, including those operating in conflict-affected and other high-risk areas of the world, to identify, prevent and mitigate adverse human rights impacts. Our team and network of dedicated experts have decades of practical experience in international human rights, commercial and criminal law. Global Rights Compliance is registered as a limited liability partnership through the Companies House in the United Kingdom, Partnership No. Its registered address is 483 Green Lanes, London, United Kingdom N13 4BS. You can also follow GRC on Twitter and LinkedIn:

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03/03/2025

Russia ignored its obligations under international law regarding the evacuation of civilians after Kakhovka Dam destruction and secretly buried the dead – according to the new documentary by The Kyiv Independent, titled “When Water Screams”.

Over the course of more than six months, journalists interviewed 50 eyewitnesses, their relatives, and volunteers to uncover the full extent of Russia’s inaction and misconduct. Analysing the report by Truth Hounds, using satellite imagery, they confirmed that at least 20 towns and 31 settlements were submerged, while Russian occupation authorities denied the scale of the disaster.

Catriona Murdoch, Vice President of Global Rights Compliance, said Russia completely ignored its obligations under international law to assist civilians in occupied territories.

“We have established that there was a total disregard for the obligations placed upon Russia regarding the evacuation of civilians, the fundamental protective measures required during the conflict, and the environmental impact this attack would inevitably have,” she emphasised.

Starvation MJT has shared six intelligence reports on the Kakhovka dam attack with the ICC and the UN COI, showing unseen data and highlighting the range of crimes which occurred during the attack and in the aftermath.

To watch the documentary, please follow the link: https://lnkd.in/dKbkmMCQ

01/03/2025

As various proposals to halt hostilities stemming from Russia’s invasion of Ukraine emerge, concerns grow about international law’s possible metamorphosis. Will the international community uphold fundamental principles, or will aggressor states turn us back to where the right to use of force, aggressive conquest, and annexation again become our new (old) reality in international law?

Maksym Vishchyk and Jeremy Pizzi, Legal Advisers at GRC, have published a comprehensive article for Just Security exploring the past, current, and future of the international legal order in the context of Russian aggression. The article examines how, despite the deepened irrelevance of the UN collective security system, international law continues to safeguard Ukraine’s sovereignty and territorial integrity.

The authors analyse the implications of potential so-called ‘peace deals’, stressing that any agreement made without Ukraine's consent or under duress would be legally worthless and void. They also explore the future life – or death? – of international law in light of challenges to the prohibition of the use of force as a central peremptory norm underpinning the current world order.

“In the end, this is a battle for a world where the war of conquest is a barbaric act rather than a legitimate right, a battle for states to take on that will rage in upcoming decades. Though states do not act through the wills of their own. Behind the abstract of sovereign nations are always human beings, and we will all have to decide for which kind of humanity we stand.” — legal advisers say.

The full text of the article is available here: https://cutt.ly/jrto77D3

28/02/2025

Without justice and accountability, there can be no lasting peace. But this work cannot wait until peace is agreed. This was the key message during the panel discussion: ‘Supporting Ukraine’s domestic judicial system and its capacity to pursue accountability’.

Wayne Jordash KC, President of Global Rights Compliance, Ingrid Elliott, UK PSVI Expert, Oleksandra Matviichuk of Center for Civil Liberties / Центр громадянських свобод, and Myroslava Krasnoborova gathered at the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office last week to speak on the investigating and prosecuting war crimes committed in the context of Russian full-scale war against Ukraine. Speakers discussed the progress made and challenges faced over the last three years.

«Investigations and prosecutions of war crimes must continue. The international community should be united in supporting Ukraine’s efforts to seek justice for these atrocities. Justice cannot be a compromise. It is the bedrock of truth,» said Wayne Jordash KC.

Wayne Jordash thanked the UK for being steadfast partners and for supporting Ukraine’s search for justice and accountability.

The UK representatives ensured they would continue to provide concrete support to Ukraine for as long as it takes to hold those responsible for atrocities to account.

27/02/2025

Ukraine Issues Notices of Suspicion to Two Russian High-Ranking Commanders for Ecocide and Other War Crimes.

The Specialised Environmental Prosecutor’s Office of the Kharkiv Regional Prosecutor’s Office and Ukrainian law enforcement officers are conducting a pre-trial investigation into the commanders’ responsibility for deliberately destroying the dam in the Kharkiv region in September 2022. The suspects are Lieutenant General Oleg Makovetsky, who leads Russia’s 6th Air and Air Defence Army of the Western Military District, and Lieutenant General Oleg Tsokov, commander of the 20th Combined Arms Army.

Lawyers with GRC’s Environmental Mobile Justice Team have supported this effort by providing advice on the applicable legal framework.

The Oskil Dam’s destruction caused an immense, uncontrolled water release, which damaged the environment and threatened to flood communities located downstream. Under international humanitarian law, dams are protected structures because of the catastrophic risks their destruction can pose. Targeting them can be a war crime.

🔹 Donna Cline, Lead of the Environment MJT at GRC: "These notices of suspicion set an important precedent in the fight against impunity for war-related environmental destruction."

🔹 Nataliia Pavlovych, Deputy Team Lead of the Environment MJT at GRC: "This is more than an attack on infrastructure—it’s an attack on ecosystems. Holding those responsible accountable is crucial for justice and deterrence."

This marks a significant step in ensuring accountability for war crimes that target both people and the planet. The investigation continues.

Read more: https://globalrightscompliance.com/2025/02/27/ukraine-issues-notices-of-suspicion-to-two-russian-high-ranking-commanders-for-ecocide-and-other-war-crimes/

25/02/2025

On February 20th, the Sexual and Gender-Based Violence MJT and the Child Justice Team conducted an online training for the Regional Prosecutor’s Office of the Sumy region on best practices for working with victims in the early stages of the judicial process.

The session explored key topics, such as challenges faced by victims and survivors in criminal proceedings and practical strategies for applying trauma-informed and child-sensitive approaches, with insights from international best practices. A key discussion point was how to effectively coordinate with the Victims and Witnesses Coordination Centre (VWCC) and other support services to ensure a survivor-centered approach and strengthen the RPO’s capacity to work with victims and survivors.

This training is particularly timely as the VWCC recently established an office in Sumy. Collaboration and knowledge-sharing are key to strengthening justice for victims and survivors and GRC remains committed to supporting this mission.

This training was made possible thanks to the generous contribution of FCDO.

Julia Tétrault-Provencher, Hoar Habrelian, Anastasiia Serputko, and Danielle D. provided the training. Anna Nekrasova was managing all the processes between GRC and Sumy RPO.

22/02/2025

On the third anniversary of Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine, the world seems upside down: victims of illegal aggression are at fault, democratically elected Presidents are dictators, and criminal regimes are now trusted partners for peace. Of course, none of this is true and the labeling of aggressors as somehow lawful drives a coach and horses through the most fundamental precepts of international law. But be in no doubt, if peace in Ukraine and Europe is to rest on these falsehoods, then it will not only determine Ukraine’s fate as a sovereign state but will also shape the future of international law and the global order it purports to protect. Ukrainian sacrifice and courage are not just about Ukraine’s independence but are a battle for the principles that define the very foundations of international law, which have, albeit imperfectly, allowed the world an unprecedented period of peace and stability since World War II.

Of course, Ukraine longs for peace. The last eleven years have been painful, and every Ukrainian has suffered and is exhausted. But in the search for a sustainable resolution to Russia’s unlawful war, it is important to remember what remains at the heart of this conflict – an attempt by a state to upend international law and return to the days where might is right and where sovereignty and democracy can be destroyed by aggression and violations of international humanitarian law.

No peace treaty concluded under the threat or use of force is valid. It is entirely void as a matter of international law. Russia’s brutal actions against Ukraine violate the most important precept of international law – the prohibition of the use of force to change sovereign borders. It follows as night follows day that any treaty – a so-called ‘peace deal’ – that validates or legitimises Russia’s illegal annexation of Ukrainian territory will itself be illegal and null and void. Under international law, states are obligated not to recognise or assist this illegality. Conversely, they must do what they can, individually or collectively, to contest this outcome and lend support to ensure that Ukraine can end the aggression from a position of strength and thus on its own terms.

Read more: https://cutt.ly/arevNSo7

Photo: Serhii Nuzhnenko (Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty) / the Collection of war.ukraine.ua

18/02/2025

Ensuring Child-Sensitive Justice in Conflict-Related Cases.

Global Rights Compliance’s Child Justice Team (CJT) is supporting the Office of the Prosecutor General’s Department for the Protection of Children’s Interests and Combating Domestic Violence (OPG JJD) and the Victim and Witness Coordination Centre (VCC) in developing a Best Interests Assessment (BIA) Procedure to integrate best interests of the child and child-sensitive approaches into the investigation and prosecution of conflict-related crimes against children.

This initiative includes:

-Drafting the procedure
-Testing the procedure on real cases
-Reviewing and refining the procedure based on findings.

To launch the three-month testing phase, GRC, the OPG JJD, and VCC held a three-day training for prosecutors, investigators, and VCC coordinators involved in two national cases. This training, along with ongoing support, will equip them with the tools to apply the BIA Procedure to criminal investigations and proceedings, ensuring child-friendly approaches to justice for conflict-related crimes.

This initiative was made possible with the support of the Prosecutor’s Training Center of Ukraine (Тренінговий центр прокурорів України), a state institution dedicated to enhancing prosecutors’ skills and capacity to deliver justice.

Learn more: https://cutt.ly/Brwc0xhP

12/02/2025

Following up on the latest news from the Philip C. Jessup International Law Moot Court Competition, we are excited to share another remarkable achievement. This time, we are proud to highlight the participation of Anna Nekrasova, Deputy Team Lead of North at GRC, who coached the team of Yaroslav Mudryi National Law University – Stefaniia Druzenok, Samanta Kravchuk, Denys Med and Alisa Tyknonenko – alongside four other coaches – Valeriia Yakimova, Oleksandr Kushch, Jessica Lott Thompson and Julia Kushnir.

Anna’s team achieved remarkable success, earning the Runner-up Team Award, placing second in the overall memorial rankings, and securing an invitation to represent Ukraine at the International Rounds in Washington, D.C. Additionally, all students of the team ranked among the top five oralists of the national competition.

Engaging in competitions like Jessup is crucial for developing future legal professionals in public international law. At a time when GRC plays an essential role in supporting efforts to achieve justice and accountability, providing law students with opportunities to enhance their skills in this and related fields has never been more important. This carries forward the tradition of strengthening the legacy of Ukrainian lawyers in the field of public international law.

09/02/2025

GRC’s legal advisors and legal researchers joined the 29th Ukrainian national rounds of the Jessup International Law Moot Court Competition as judges, participants, coaches, volunteers, and guests.

The Jessup Competition is one of the oldest and most prestigious public international law moot court competitions in the world, uniting hundreds of teams and thousands of students, academics, and practitioners yearly in discussions of novel and complex issues of international law.

This year the team of National University of Kyiv-Mohyla Academy, which included three GRC legal researchers, became the Ukrainian national champion. Sincerest congratulations to Vladyslav Levchuk, Anastasiia Shashkevych and Vladyslav Mykhalchenko for the amazing work done!

“What starts with the hard law and theoretical debates soon transforms into something deeply personal. For me, Jessup is more than just a competition; it is a challenge that pushes you to grow, both as a legal mind and as part of a team bound by common passion and resilience. It is a chance to represent Ukraine and to show the world that international law is not just about rigid rules – it is about people, about justice, about shaping a future where law truly serves humanity – the core values that we embrace in GRC. And in this journey, we do not just prove our knowledge but our commitment to making a difference”, stated Vladyslav Levchuk, legal researcher at GRC.

“Despite having states as its primary subjects, public international law is inherently a human endeavour,” – stated Jeremy Pizzi, international legal advisor at GRC. “It is conceptualised, moulded, and ultimately applied by humans. Contributions to international law are done most effectively not in the abstract of sovereign nations and institutional hierarchies, but in the tangible of human contact and emotion. Jessup provides exactly the kind of setting which guides future professionals to understand the importance of discourse, debate, and relationships with peers that are central to public international law’s perpetual motion to align itself with humanity’s shared values.”

“Competitions like Jessup present a unique opportunity for students to enhance their knowledge and skills in international law that further allows them to enter the field as talented young practitioners. Especially in Ukraine, Jessup contributes strongly to building an international law community and preparing professionals to strengthening Ukraine’s effort in investigating and prosecuting atrocity crimes. GRC members are very proud to continue supporting Jessup Ukraine in various roles – as judges, participants and coaches”, - commented Maksym Vishchyk, legal advisor and international law research coordinator with Mobile Justice Teams at GRC.

07/02/2025

Thousands of Ukrainian prisoners of war (POWs) remain in Russian captivity, enduring harrowing conditions that violate international law. Since 2022, Ukraine has secured the return of 3,786 service members through 49 prisoner exchanges. Yet, many who return bear the scars of torture and sexual violence, which are grave breaches of the Geneva Conventions.

At Global Rights Compliance, Lidiia Volkova, Legal adviser and Deputy Team Lead of the Mobile Justice Team “East”, works closely with Ukrainian prosecutors to guide them on case-building on international crimes. However, accountability remains a challenge, as systemic impunity continues to hinder efforts to hold perpetrators accountable.

Read more in International Policy Digest: https://cutt.ly/De5BCYML

06/02/2025

For the first time in history, a war-related environmental crime against a natural reserve has been formally brought before a court. Ukrainian prosecutors, with the support of Global Rights Compliance, have indicted the Russia-appointed head of Askania-Nova, a UNESCO-protected biosphere reserve, for the illegal transfer of protected animals to Russia.

Why does this matter? This is a landmark case—the first-ever prosecution for damage to the protected natural reserve as a war crime. Russia, as an occupying power, violated international law by seizing and transferring reserve-protected species, including Przewalski’s horses, Chapman’s zebras, and American bison, without Ukraine’s consent.

Nataliia Pavlovych, Legal Adviser at Global Rights Compliance, states, “The unlawful transfer of these animals is a direct violation of international humanitarian law and must be prosecuted.”

This case sets a global precedent: environmental destruction during war will not go unpunished. “By initiating these proceedings, prosecutors are at the forefront of developing precedent in this area of the law,” added Donna Cline, Lead of the Environment Mobile Justice Team, at Global Rights Compliance. Read more: link to the website

GRC’s Mobile Justice Team is a part of the Atrocity Crimes Advisory (ACA) Group for Ukraine. The ACA is a multilateral initiative established by the United States, the European Union, and the United Kingdom to support and assist Ukrainian law enforcement and prosecutors in investigating and prosecuting international crimes committed during the full-scale war.

Read more: https://lnkd.in/e5GzPtzv

30/01/2025

On January 28, 2025, Global Rights Compliance representative Viktoriia Kovalchak participated in the presentation of the Strategy of the Main Investigation Department of the National Police of Ukraine: “Management of Investigations of International Crimes Committed in the Context of Armed Conflict”.

Developed with the support of the Council of Europe Office in Ukraine, this Strategy reflects the experience gained during the war, key challenges in evidence collection, and strategic goals for strengthening investigations.

Speaking at the event, Viktoriia Kovalchak reaffirmed GRC's unwavering support for the National Police’s efforts in advancing international justice, highlighting the exceptional professionalism of its war crimes investigators.

“The Strategy is a crucial step in ensuring a unified approach to investigation priorities and serves as a roadmap for further initiatives, strengthening the entire pre-trial investigation system,” she stated.

23/01/2025

❗ Global Rights Compliance welcomes the announcement of a ceasefire between Israel and Hamas in Gaza and urges all parties to respect the conditions set therein.

The ceasefire agreement between Israel and Hamas is a vital first step towards alleviating the current humanitarian catastrophe afflicting civilians in Gaza. However, it must be followed by immediate and effective measures by both parties to the conflict to restore access to basic necessities for the civilian population and, more broadly, to ensure respect of international law, including through the crucial support of the international community.

GRC calls on the international community to acknowledge the vast scale of atrocities committed during the Israel–Hamas war and do everything in its power to ensure they do not go unpunished. All these violations require urgent and independent investigation and prosecution when suspects are identified, whatever position they occupy in Israel or Hamas’ military and political command structure.

Read the full statement via this link: https://cutt.ly/Ye8TXFeg

23/01/2025

Global Rights Compliance and the T.M.C. Asser Instituut have submitted a joint report to the 47th Session of the Universal Periodic Review (UPR) of Türkiye, calling for urgent reforms to its arms export framework.

Our recommendations include:

- Ratification of the Arms Trade Treaty (ATT).
- Mandatory risk assessments to prevent arms transfers that could -facilitate human rights violations.
- Strengthened safeguards against the diversion of weapons.
- Parliamentary oversight for licence decisions to enhance transparency.
- Closing loopholes exempting certain fi****ms, like shotguns, from export controls.

The current framework leaves significant gaps, risking complicity in human rights abuses and violations of international humanitarian law. Reforming these policies is essential to protecting lives and upholding accountability.

🔗 Read the full submission: https://cutt.ly/ee8mJlX6

T.M.C. Asser Instituut

22/01/2025

GRC’s legal advisors Emmanuelle Marchand, the head of a regional Mobile Justice Team (MJT), and Maks Vishchyk, the deputy head of a regional MJT, participated in a two-day expert roundtable discussion on approaches to harmonise Ukraine’s legislation on international crimes with international standards in connection with the Rome Statute’s ratification.

The roundtable was organised and hosted by Програма USAID «Справедливість для всіх» - USAID Justice for All Activity and brought together judges, prosecutors, investigators, defence attorneys, academics, representatives of legislative and executive authorities, and experts from international and Ukrainian NGOs. GRC’s legal advisors shared their vision of the most appropriate and comprehensive approaches, creating a solid basis for Ukraine’s current and future accountability efforts.

“Whichever format Ukraine chooses, it has to necessarily be guided by two main considerations. First, it must comply with Ukraine’s international obligations under the Rome Statute, international human rights law, and general international law more broadly. Second, it has to adopt a prospective vision that takes into account the lessons learned in the last decade of international crimes’ prosecution, the specific context surrounding atrocities in Ukraine, and new tactics adopted in their commission. Wisely crafted amendments will preclude repeated future revisions and provide legal clarity and certainty for all justice system actors and individual accused”, - commented Maksym Vishchyk on efforts to improve Ukrainian legislation on international crimes.

GRC expresses its gratitude to USAID’s ‘Justice for All’ program for providing a forum for such an important discussion.

17/01/2025

GRC, alongside other members of the Coalition for the International Criminal Court (CICC), urges ICC member states to defend the court's independence and ensure that it can carry out its vital work.

CICC: "The Coalition for the International Criminal Court and over 120 strongly oppose efforts by the U.S. to impose sanctions against the International Criminal Court.

We call on ICC member states to defend the ICC's integrity and independence, and to safeguard victims' access to justice.

We call on the United States to:
🔵 Cease any effort, including through sanctions, to derail the ICC’s independent judicial processes, and

🔵 Commit to supporting access to justice for all victims and survivors of serious international crimes, including before the ICC.

US sanctions could severely affect the ability of the ICC to fulfil its crucial mandate in all situations where it operates. The ICC is an independent judicial institution tasked with delivering justice to victims of serious international crimes when they have nowhere else to turn.

✅ ICC member states must defend the court and ensure that it can continue its work undeterred."

Read our joint statement now ➡️ https://cutt.ly/fe3tTzh7

15/01/2025

Why Abandoning Ukraine Will Usher in a New World Order of Inevitable Wars – A Legal Perspective from Global Rights Compliance.

Global Rights Compliance (GRC) legal advisers, Maksym Vishchyk and Jeremy Pizzi, have contributed an important article to The Scotsman on the grave consequences of reducing international support for Ukraine. The article highlights that if Russia's aggression goes unchecked, it will set a dangerous precedent, leading to a world order characterised by territorial conquest through force.

“As air raid alarms ring throughout Ukrainian cities daily, an alarm must begin sounding in people’s minds about the inflection point the world now faces.” The advisers stress that the prohibition of using force to acquire territory is a fundamental principle of international law. Allowing Russia’s actions to succeed in Ukraine would severely erode this legal framework, which has long ensured relative global peace and stability. The article further explains that any territorial concessions made under duress would be illegitimate, and the international community must uphold its obligation to confront aggressors.

The future of global security is at stake. Supporting Ukraine is not just an act of solidarity but a stand for the principles that protect us all. It is crucial to act now to preserve the integrity of international law.

Read the full article on The Scotsman: https://cutt.ly/De9lSOPU

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