Path to Justice: Practical Support for War-Affected Persons in Documenting Damage and Accessing the Register of Damage for Ukraine

About the project

The “Path to Justice” project helps people affected by the war to better understand how to document the damage they have suffered and how to use the International Damage Registry for Ukraine (RD4U).

For many victims, the journey from the occurrence of damage to proper documentation remains complex. It requires identifying the appropriate claim category, gathering evidence, establishing the link between the damage and the war, and submitting the information correctly. Additional barriers include digital inequality, the complexity of official information, mistrust of institutions, and the risk of turning to unreliable intermediaries.

Within the project, the team will prepare a practical guide, check‑lists and an action algorithm for victims and the professionals assisting them. Six informational‑practical sessions and individual consultations will also be held on documenting damage, RD4U claim categories, required evidence, personal data protection and locating official information sources.

The project does not involve submitting claims on behalf of victims and does not guarantee compensation. Its purpose is to provide clear information and practical tools that enable people to navigate the documentation process and approach the relevant mechanisms more safely and independently.

Target Audience

The primary target audience of the project are individuals who have been affected by the war and live in the Zakarpattia region or have temporarily relocated there. This includes internally displaced persons, women, older adults, members of national minorities, persons with disabilities, as well as families who have lost housing, property, documents, access to a place of residence or other opportunities because of the war.

The project will also involve representatives of local civil‑society organisations and IDP initiatives, lawyers, social workers and community specialists. The knowledge they acquire will enable them to continue providing basic information to people and to refer them to the appropriate mechanisms and specialised assistance.

Partners

Coordinator – Grassroots Institute, partner – CAHR "Vested"

Expected Results

As a result of the project, people affected by the war will have a clearer understanding of how to document the damage they have suffered, how to determine the appropriate claim category for the International Damage Registry for Ukraine, and which evidence may be needed in their specific situation. They will also be better able to distinguish between RD4U, national assistance programmes and forthcoming compensation mechanisms.

Victims will gain more practical capacity to prepare independently for approaching the relevant mechanisms: collecting and organising documents, using verified information sources, handling personal data more safely and avoiding unreliable intermediaries. Individual informational‑legal support will help people understand the next steps in more complex cases and reduce the risk of errors during damage documentation.

Local civil‑society organisations, IDP initiatives, lawyers, social workers and community specialists will receive practical materials and clearer algorithms for initial support of victims. This should strengthen local capacity to provide basic information, help people navigate procedures and timely refer them to specialised legal assistance.

The experience gathered during consultations and practical work will help identify typical barriers that victims face when accessing RD4U. Summarised findings and recommendations will give NGOs, communities, national institutions and international partners a practical basis for improving information, procedures and support for victims.

In the longer term, the combination of better legal awareness among victims, enhanced capacity of local organisations to provide support, and advocacy based on real experience is expected to facilitate more accessible use of damage‑documentation mechanisms and international accountability. This will create better conditions for war‑affected people to exercise their right to legal protection and continue using compensation mechanisms being developed for Ukraine.