Ukraine: What does it take to be a war crime investigator? CEPOL and European countries map out essential skills and competences

In response to Russia's brutal war of aggression against Ukraine, the TOPCOP project organised on 16 April in Budapest a workshop to develop a comprehensive competency matrix for war crime investigators. This exercise intends to establish a set of expertise and qualifications necessary for conducting effective war crime investigations, regardless of linguistic and procedural differences. By defining the essential skills and competencies for different professional profiles deployed on-site, a more effective and coherent approach to war crime investigations can be achieved.

The outcomes of this workshop will also lay the groundwork for the development of subsequent training programmes for investigators. The application of the matrix principles to these training initiatives will ensure that all investigators are equipped with the necessary skills and knowledge to effectively contribute to war crime investigations in Ukraine.

The countries participating in this workshop were Belgium, the Czech Republic, Denmark, France, the Netherlands, Switzerland, and Ukraine. Tako Van Hoorn, on behalf of the Royal Netherlands Marechaussee, a key supporter of this initiative, emphasised the importance of a unified approach: "When we use different methods and systems to collect evidence, we see the need for a common language. The matrix will serve as a crucial tool to enhance our collaborative efforts".

“Investigating war crimes in the context of a modern international armed conflict requires the use of the best forensic tools. The scale and consequences of such crimes exceed by far the capabilities of a single state; so it is important to join forces. Coordinated planning and the division of functions between specialists from different states is key for an effective mechanism to record and investigate international crimes”, stated Stanislav Petrenko, representative of the Ukrainian Office of the Prosecutor General.

This collaborative effort marks a significant step towards more effective and unified war crime investigations, ultimately contributing to the broader goal of justice and accountability in conflict zones.

About TOPCOP

The Training and Operational Partnership Against Organised Crime (TOPCOP) project aims at improving operational effectiveness and fostering cooperation between the law enforcement authorities of the EU Member States and the Eastern Partnership countries. For more information, please visit the project page.