Geopolitics & Public Affairs
Oleksandra Matviichuk, Nobel Peace Prize laureate, human rights lawyer, and head of the Center for Civil Liberties, delivered a powerful and uncompromising message: there can be no peace without justice, and civil society is often the last line of defense when institutions fail.
Invited by HEC Talks, HEC Débats, and HEC Imagine on the occasion of International Human Rights Day, she drew on more than a decade of documenting war crimes, including over 90,000 cases since the start of Russia’s invasion, to challenge dominant narratives around peace, security, and international responsibility.
Her intervention reframes the debate: what is often presented as “peace” can in fact mean occupation, impunity, and the continuation of violence. In a world where democratic systems are weakening and disinformation is eroding our perception of reality, she argues that the protection of human dignity increasingly depends on the engagement of ordinary citizens.
To learn more about her talk, read the full article
- Peace without justice leads to occupation, not stability
- Impunity fuels repeated wars and global insecurity
- Civil society acts when institutions fail
- Human rights are declining, even in democracies
- Information warfare undermines truth and collective action
- Individual efforts shape the course of history
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