Press Release
Today marks four years since the United Kingdom, the European Union and the United States established the Atrocity Crimes Advisory Group for Ukraine (ACA) to advance accountability for atrocity crimes in the context of Russia’s ongoing war of aggression against Ukraine, and to ensure efficient coordination of their respective support.
International Criminal Justice Initiative
“ACA represents an important innovation in international justice,” said Amb. (Ret.) Clint Williamson, Lead Coordinator of ACA and Senior Director for International Justice at Georgetown University Law Center. “For the first time, three major governments have partnered together to support a country at war, as it investigates and prosecutes atrocity crimes committed on its territory. In practical terms, this support is responsible for a number of important outcomes, including facilitating indictments against senior Russian officials, strengthened capacity to prosecute crimes against children and the adoption of a victim-centered approach to justice.”
Since launching operations in 2022, ACA has:
- Engaged more than 230 experts
- Led 300+ trainings and study trips with over 7,800+ total participants
- Advised on more than 290 cases
- Led 165 field missions across Ukraine
Global Rights Compliance
“Four years ago, we made a commitment to accountability. Today, that commitment has translated into real evidence and real cases and a real hope for justice, if not today, then tomorrow,” said Wayne Jordash KC, President of Global Rights Compliance and UK Deputy Lead Coordinator of ACA. “We have moved from systematising evidence, revealing command cases, supporting individual cases, to exposing the systematic policy behind Russia’s attempts to subjugate Ukraine, to building the capacity of Ukraine’s national justice system. We know that only together – as partners – can we move towards justice and accountability for Russia’s terrible crimes.”
EU Advisory Mission Ukraine
“Since its establishment on 25 May 2022, the Atrocity Crimes Advisory Group has provided a practical platform for sustained international support to Ukraine’s accountability efforts,” said Claudio Pala, Deputy Lead Coordinator of ACA. “Working closely with the Office of the Prosecutor General and Ukrainian law enforcement agencies, and with EUAM as a key implementing entity, ACA has helped translate partner support into targeted legal, investigative and analytical assistance. It has also served as an important coordination bridge, helping ensure that international expertise is aligned with Ukraine’s operational needs and contributes to effective, victim-centred accountability for international crimes. This collective effort remains essential to delivering justice for victims and reinforcing the international rule of law. Through EUAM, the European Union will continue to play an active and practical role within the ACA consortium, helping ensure that international support remains coordinated, operationally relevant, and closely aligned with the needs of our Ukrainian counterparts.”
EU Project Pravo-Justice
“Four years in, what strikes me most is not the volume of what we have accomplished, but how deeply this partnership has taken root. Ukrainian prosecutors and judges are not simply managing more cases – they are approaching them differently, with greater rigor and confidence. When domestic experience meets international expertise, something lasting is created. That is where real accountability lives, and where the rule of law grows – not just for Ukraine, but far beyond it,” said Oksana Tsymbrivska, Team Leader at EU Project Pravo-Justice.
International Development Law Organization
“Since the moment ACA was created, IDLO has contributed to its joint objectives by providing support and advice to central and regional prosecutors and investigators, delivering technical assistance on relevant legislative and policy matters, and supporting the creation of the Victims and Witnesses Coordination Centre. We are proud to be a part of this collective effort and will continue to work together with our national and international partners to help Ukraine deliver justice to victims and affected communities and to ensure a sustainable, fair and efficient accountability system,” said Fabricio Guariglia, the Director of IDLO’s The Hague Office and representative to ACA.
ACA advances justice and accountability for atrocity crimes in Ukraine by advising and assisting the Office of the Prosecutor General (OPG) of Ukraine and other relevant Ukrainian government agencies on the documentation, investigation, and prosecution of war crimes and other atrocities, including genocide, crimes against humanity and aggression.
“The need for this type of innovative approach will only grow as international consensus on accountability issues becomes harder and harder to achieve,” Williamson said.
ACA is composed of five “Implementing Entities” or partner organizations: the European Union Advisory Mission Ukraine (EUAM); EU Project Pravo-Justice; Global Rights Compliance (GRC); the International Criminal Justice Initiative (ICJI) at Georgetown Law; and the International Development Law Organization (IDLO).
