Russia’s war on Ukraine is a war on people. Behind every negotiation headline are thousands of people whose freedom, safety, and dignity are taken away. The most pressing concern is the fate of thousands of Ukrainian civilians who are arbitrarily detained in Russia and in occupied territories. Many of them are held incommunicado, without access to lawyers or family, and are routinely subjected to torture, sexualized violence, starvation, denial of medical care, and other forms of inhuman and degrading treatment. Ukrainian prisoners of war (POWs) have also been subjected to ill-treatment, torture, and even extrajudicial killings. Meanwhile, in Russia and Belarus, repression is only intensifying, with hundreds of political prisoners in these countries, including those detained for their opposition to the war, facing dire circumstances.
In response to this, the People First campaign was launched in 2025 by a group of human rights organizations, led by Ukrainian and Russian 2022 Nobel Peace Prize laureates – the Center for Civil Liberties and Memorial. PAX and Stichting Justice Initiative were two Dutch organizations that joined the campaign. The campaign demands the immediate release of all captives of war, including thousands of abducted Ukrainian children and political prisoners in Russia. More broadly, it advocates for the protection of human rights and the promotion of justice and accountability.
The campaign’s advocacy visit to the Netherlands
Last week, PAX and Stichting Justice Initiative organized the campaign’s advocacy visit to the Netherlands. The delegation featured two Nobel Peace Prize winners: Oleksandra Matviichuk, Head of the Centre for Civil Liberties, and Sergey Davidis, Head of the Political Prisoners Support Programme at Memorial, as well as Russian human rights expert Ekaterina Sokirianskaia.
The delegation had a series of meetings with Dutch parliamentarians, policymakers, and the expert community, conveying the crucial message: the human dimension should be central in any negotiations in relation to Russia’s war in Ukraine. Delegation members, together with PAX Director Rolien Sasse, also engaged in a conversation with the broader public at Parkhuis de Zwijger on how the Netherlands and Europe can stand up for human rights and a sustainable peace.
Bringing the human dimension onto the international agenda
The delegation underlined that putting people first in response to Russia’s aggression requires both immediate humanitarian action in support of its victims and an end of impunity. Russia’s war against Ukraine once again shows that internal repression and external aggression reinforce each other. Russia’s aggression and systematic criminal conduct have gone unpunished since the first Chechen war in 1995. The vicious circle of impunity and crime must be broken.
Regardless of the progress in any peace negotiations, the human rights and dignity of thousands of captives of war must be upheld. Russia must face pressure to free all arbitrarily detained persons and political prisoners. In the meantime, the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) must be granted access to POWs, and UN agencies must be allowed to monitor the condition of all captives and all deported children. Russia must stop its terror against civilians residing on Russian-occupied territories, adhere to international humanitarian law, and protect civilians.
When it comes to any future peace negotiations, the release of all detained civilians and abducted children, and the exchange of all POWs should be at the top of negotiators’ priorities. Even when progress on political or military issues is difficult, achieving breakthroughs in humanitarian matters can keep the diplomatic track alive.
More broadly, it is crucial to establish international accountability mechanisms for the ongoing aggression and to deliver justice to its victims. Many of the heinous crimes committed by Russia in Ukraine today are the result of decades-long impunity for grave human rights violations committed elsewhere.
Finally, dealing with Russia requires a long-term strategy that, in addition to immediate support for Ukraine in the war, prioritizes support for democratic forces within the country. International insistence on the release of political prisoners who tried to resist aggression in the face of the increasingly repressive regime must be part of that strategy and one of the conditions for any normalization with Russia once the war ends.
Acting together in support of the People First campaign goals
The Netherlands and other European states can play a crucial role in supporting the objectives of the People First campaign. This includes systematically raising concerns over the situation of those living under occupation, in detention, or under daily threat in various international forums. Individual countries such as the Netherlands can build international coalitions and partnerships, including with non-Western states, in support of negotiating the release of arbitrarily detained civilians and political prisoners. These efforts also require support for civil society organizations and initiatives that are providing assistance to the captives of war, documenting human rights abuses and working on advancing accountability. In parallel, European countries should continue supporting Ukraine with all means and put pressure on Russia to make the war too costly to wage.
The People First campaign reminds us that behind the geopolitical maneuvering and military strategies, there are real people suffering and dying in Ukraine, and thousands of Russian and Belarusian citizens are punished for opposing a cruel war. By prioritizing human rights and human lives, we can help to ensure that the voices of those most affected are heard and that justice and accountability are ultimately served – as a precondition for a lasting peace.
