News Archive

Olena Protsenko, LL.M. ’20, addressed the United Nations Human Rights Council regarding the ongoing crisis in Ukraine. Protsenko is an attorney from Donbas Region in Ukraine. IU McKinney Professor George Edwards received an invitation from the council for someone from the Program in International Human Rights Law to speak during the proceedings, and he reached out to Protsenko who agreed to take part.

Protsenko was a Fulbright Scholar while a student at IU McKinney. She and Professor Edwards worked on her remarks together, which she delivered to the council May 12. Her remarks begin at the 33:39 mark.

Protsenko argued that Russia and its leaders have violated four areas of international law and violated treaties, outlining specific violations, including breaching the territorial integrity and political independence of Ukraine, war crimes, crimes against humanity, genocide, and others. She asked the council to demand Russia comply with its international legal obligations, cease the use of force, and protect civilians.

This is the third time someone from IU McKinney has addressed the United Nations Human Rights Council. An IU McKinney LL.M. graduate addressed the council in August 2021 about alleged Taliban violations during the re-taking of Afghanistan. Elizabeth Halodik, ’22, spoke about human rights violations in Guantanamo Bay in March 2021.

Professor Edwards founded the Program in International Human Rights Law in 1997. The program was granted “United Nations Special Consultative Status” in 2011, one of 2,000 non-governmental organizations worldwide to have this status.

In the photo, Protsenko addresses the United Nations Human Rights Council via video feed.