"Meetings, Justice and Hope"

Despite the ongoing Russian invasion of Ukraine, a total of 593 local, national, and international business events were held in the country in 2022, showcasing Ukraine’s determination to continue with its regular activities despite the conflict. These events not only provided moral support to the nation but also had lasting impacts on various aspects of society. The Lviv Convention Bureau will be attending IMEX Frankfurt from 23-25 May 2023.

One notable event that took place in Lviv was the United for Justice conference organised by the Office of the Prosecutor General of Ukraine from 3-5 March 2023. The conference focused on promoting increased coordination on accountability initiatives regarding Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. Lviv was chosen as the place for this convention due to its historical connections to international justice. The city is associated with two influential figures in the field, Raphael Lemkin and Hersch Lauterpacht, who played pivotal roles in developing legal concepts such as genocide and crimes against humanity.

Yuliia Katynska from the Lviv Convention Bureau said that meetings like United for Justice made strong contributions to the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals. “Goal 16 is for Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions, promoting peaceful and inclusive societies, providing access to justice for all and building effective, accountable and inclusive institutions at all levels. The long-term legacy impact from this convention will be the increased international cooperation for the sake of justice, not only for Ukraine, but world-wide.”

The United for Justice conference brought together key national and international political and justice officials from Ukraine, Latvia, and other countries, as well as representatives from the International Criminal Court and various international and national NGOs. The three-day event featured numerous panel discussions covering a wide range of topics related to ongoing accountability efforts. The conference left a legacy impact by establishing a Dialogue Group on Accountability for Ukraine, aiming to maintain multilateral coherence of action across accountability efforts regarding the war.

Several outcomes emerged from the conference, including the opening of the office of the International Criminal Court (ICC) in Ukraine, the creation of an International Register of Damages, and the establishment of a joint investigation team (JIT) supported by the seven partner countries of the European Union Agency for Criminal Justice Cooperation (Eurojust).

In April 2023, Lviv hosted another significant convention with direct implications for the country’s war-wounded. The International Rehabilitation Forum gathered specialists from around the world to discuss solutions for the treatment, prosthetics and rehabilitation of war victims. The event showcased the Unbroken project and the work of Ukrainian medics operating in emergency conditions. It also featured an international exhibition of the latest rehabilitation equipment, including innovative technologies like 3D-printed bionic prostheses, robotic walking systems, and exoskeletons. The forum's outcomes and the establishment of the Unbroken National Center for Rehabilitation are expected to have a transformative impact on the lives of permanently wounded individuals and those with disabilities.

The Lviv Convention Bureau will be represented at IMEX Frankfurt 2023 on booth G310. The Kyiv Tourism and Promotion Department will also be there. The exhibitors will hold a presentation at the booth on Wednesday 24 May 2023 from 14:00-14:30.