She is the first person from the UK to be given the honor by Ukraine president Volodymyr Zelenskyy
Baroness Helena Kennedy, director of the International Bar Association’s Human Rights Institute, has received the Order of Merit of Ukraine of the III degree.
Ukraine president Volodymyr Zelenskyy presented Kennedy with the accolade on Ukraine’s Independence Day last Sunday, August 24. The Order of Merit of Ukraine is given to those who have made standout contributions to the country in fields like economics, science, culture, the military, and public or political service.
Kennedy, a British barrister and UK House of Lords member, is the first person from the UK to receive the honor from Zelenskyy.
“This award is not only a symbol of the deep gratitude of the Ukrainian people – it is a recognition of your lifelong commitment to justice, human rights, and the rule of law. Your strong voice in defending truth and dignity has inspired many, and your support for the Bring Kids Back UA initiative has given hope to families separated by war,” said Andriy Yermak, head of the Office of the President of Ukraine, in a statement addressed to Kennedy.
Kennedy co-chairs the Bring Kids Back UA Task Force on deported Ukrainian children, which brings together experts to develop a child rights-based mechanism to reunite kidnapped Ukrainian children with their families and communities. The task force also aims to improve the international legal framework to protect children during armed conflict.
Moreover, Kennedy became part of the Ukraine government’s legal task force on accountability for crimes committed in Ukraine in 2022. The task force seeks to support Ukrainian authorities in providing justice to victims of international crimes perpetrated by Russia in Ukraine.
“I have been privileged to work with Andriy Yermak and the rest of the president’s team on the tragedy that has befallen the Ukrainian people at the hands of Russia. The abduction of a nation’s children is such a vicious way of inflicting pain on a population. The war crimes being committed by Russia are grievous. The conduct of Putin would leave most people in total despair, but Ukrainians have been resolute in their struggle for freedom and justice,” Kennedy said. “I am deeply humbled to receive this honour and I accept it on behalf of all my colleagues in the law who are seeking justice in our troubled world.”
