Congress Must Push For Ukraine Peace Process that Addresses the Rights and Needs of People Affected
As conflict continues to persist in Ukraine, NP and 30 other human rights, humanitarian, faith based, and foreign policy-focused organizations, urge Members of Congress to support an inclusive negotiation phase, with the goal of a just and lasting peace in which human rights are strengthened and harm to civilians is repaired.
The letter sent to Congress reads:
Dear Members of Congress,
We write as organizations variously focused on U.S. national security and foreign policy, human rights, the protection of civilians, peacebuilding, and humanitarian response. As negotiations to end Russia’s war against Ukraine continue, it is important that members of Congress engage robustly in supporting an inclusive peace process. We believe that the goal of a secure and prosperous Ukraine is achievable if the United States takes an inclusive, realistic, and sophisticated approach to these talks. To this end, we urge you to put forth your positive vision for a successful initial negotiation phase, with the goal of a just and lasting peace in which human rights are strengthened and harm to civilians is repaired.
In order to realistically achieve a ceasefire, this initial round of negotiations should focus on a framework for a continued peace process. While our organizations come from varying perspectives, we agree that, once negotiated, the framework for the peace process should result in:
- A durable and verifiable end to the fighting, including an end to the targeting of critical infrastructure and the use of explosive weapons in populated areas.
- Meeting immediate humanitarian needs, including access to basic services and humanitarian demining
- The release and return of captives in line with international law
While this initial round of negotiations will likely not address many important questions, achieving a framework for a broader peace process and a stable end to the fighting is essential for reducing civilian harm, beginning reconstruction in Ukraine, and establishing a process for justice. To increase the chances of the broader peace process leading to long-term, sustainable peace, negotiators should consider:
- Inclusion of civilian voices in negotiations.
- Upholding the rights of civilians, especially in occupied territories.
- Enabling family reunification.
- Obtaining concrete guarantees for Ukrainian reconstruction and establishing a process for reconciliation, accountability and repair.