International and Human Rights Law Supporting Ukraine: Safeguarding Refugee Policies and the Freedom of Speech

Durham University Ukrainian Talk series with Dr Markian Prokopovych 

International and Human Rights Law Supporting Ukraine: Safeguarding Refugee Policies and the Freedom of Speech

26 January, 5.30pm @ Gala Theatre 

£1 ticket in person/£2 ticket via phone/online
Ukrainian refugees free

Translator present 

Russia’s recent invasion of Ukraine has provoked many legal challenges, among them the ones that might involve international organisations and tribunals, as well as the necessity to legally support displaced persons abroad. Some of the existing legislative mechanisms in the EU and UK have revealed significant flaws, with individuals and families being stuck waiting for their visas in transit or falling through the cracks of the ‘Homes for Ukraine’ programme in the UK.

What would be the better legislative ways for western nations to accommodate Ukrainian asylum seekers and refugees looking for sanctuary in Europe? What are the challenges of illegal migration into and within the EU that are caused by the current war? What effective ways would there be to safeguard freedom of expression under the conflict conditions and in the future? How to establish international legal control over targeted spending for foreign funds for the reconstruction of post-war Ukraine?

This public debate discusses the many ways international and human rights law could assist Ukraine as it tries to defend itself against military aggression today, to help Ukrainians who are displaced by the conflict, and how it could help Ukraine in the future transition to peace.

This series is organised jointly by Durham University, Zaporizhzhia National University in Ukraine and Durham County Council. A translator will also be present at this debate.

Participants: Dr Olena Agapova, Director of Innovation and Development Center of international, scientific, technology and educational cooperation National Aerospace University “KhAI” (Kharkiv, Ukraine), leading researcher in Riga Stradins University (Riga, Latvia); Prof Thom Brooks, Professor of Law and Government, Durham University; Prof Helen Fenwick, Professor of Law, Director of the Human Rights Centre, Durham University; Dr Mark Hanna, Assistant Professor of Law, Durham University; Prof Oleksii Makarenkov, Associate Professor of Law, ZNU; Dr Yurii Ponomarenko, Associate Professor of Law, Yaroslav Mudriy National Law University; Prof Volker Roeben, Professor of International Law, Durham University; Prof Volodymyr Steshenko, Professor of International Law, Yaroslav Mudryi National Law University. Chair: Dr Markian Prokopovych, Associate Professor of History, Durham University.