Ukraine: International Claims Commission Convention

Baroness Goudie Excerpts

Tuesday 30th June 2026 Grand Committee

[Baroness Goudie (Lab)]

My Lords, I thank the noble Lord, Lord Johnson, and all other members of the committee for the work that they have done on this issue. I also thank the witnesses who came forward.

I declare my unpaid interest as an ambassador for the Georgetown Institute for Women, Peace and Security. We have done an enormous amount of work with women and men from Ukraine. We have had a number of delegations come here to meet the Government and other people of influence. That has been very important.

I welcome the Convention establishing an International Claims Commission for Ukraine, as well as the Government’s support for its swift ratification. As noble Lords know, I have a long-held interest in the women, peace and security agenda. I believe that the establishment of this commission matters a great deal. Lasting peace in Ukraine cannot be built on a foundation where the victims are asked to carry the human and economic costs of aggression without recognition or redress.

We know that the scale of the task is immense. The register of damage has already received 150,000 claims—indeed, even more as we speak today. The suggestion is that the final number of claims could go as high as 10 million. I have met organisations from both inside and outside Ukraine that are keeping lists of all these claims. The way in which people—including men, women and young boys—have been abused is disgraceful.

I will mention later in my speech something I would like to look at. I know that the Treasury has heard this from me before, but we should look at the interest on the money that we are holding on behalf of Russians and others—perhaps even some people from the UK. We need to look at this issue and talk about it. At the moment, we are saying, “The Foreign Office is looking at it”, but this issue is becoming really important as the situation continues. As the noble Lord, Lord Johnson, mentioned, we are not necessarily going to get much support from the United States, so we must work with Europe. We also have to think about the fact that the one thing some people are looking at and taking away is the intellectual property of Ukraine. Its minerals must not be part of the deal. The minerals belong to it, as does the interest.

The commission will provide the essential next steps for those who have suffered or suffer still in Ukraine by assessing their claims and determining the compensation that is due. We must also think about the fact that some of these people will be dead by the time their claims are assessed. Look at what is happening in other parts of the world where we see similar situations.

There are now thousands of documented cases of human rights abuses, including torture, inhumane treatment and sexual violence. We have also heard about people who have experienced sexual violence having guns left by their side, as though they are being told, “This is your present for letting us”. Conflict-related sexual violence must be addressed explicitly because the women, girls and men who have been subjected to this grievous crime face significant stigma, trauma and displacement, alongside the complications of the loss or lack of evidence and records. For those people in particular, the process must be confidential, accessible and trauma-informed. The evidential requirements must reflect the realities of war, rather than placing an impossible burden on survivors.

Similarly, the children who have lost their parents, homes or access to education—every day that a child goes without education cannot be made up—must be able to have the full extent of their harm recognised. I say this particularly because children are now being educated underground, because nowhere else is safe. They are not sure what they are going to come out to at the end of their education each day.

The commission must not forget that Ukrainian women’s organisations and survivor-led groups have invaluable knowledge of the realities of the war. I hope that they will be consulted directly, especially regarding the procedures, outreach and support for survivors.

I am glad that the United Kingdom’s contribution will support the commission’s operation. However, as we know, the separate compensation fund from which awards would be paid has yet to be established. Can my noble friend say how the Government will support the meaningful participation of women survivors in designing the claims process? We know who the women and the groups are, but we must make sure that they are at the table. What practical steps are being taken with international partners towards establishing a credible and durable compensation fund?

This convention is an important expression of international solidarity and accountability. I hope that the United Kingdom will continue working and leading on ensuring that the commission delivers meaningful justice and redress to all Ukrainians who have been harmed.