Introducing Matviichuk, Rodríguez de las Heras Ballell situated her work directly within the Conference theme of Europe and the Rule of Law: Cultural Engagement and Legal Resilience.

Matviichuk heads the Center for Civil Liberties, one of Ukraine’s leading human rights organisations. Since Russia’s aggression against Ukraine began in 2014, and with renewed urgency following the full-scale invasion in 2022, the organisation has worked to document war crimes, support accountability and ensure that victims’ experiences are recorded. In 2022, the Center for Civil Liberties became the first Ukrainian organisation to receive the Nobel Peace Prize.

Matviichuk’s participation brought the Conference’s overarching discussion of legal resilience into its most demanding context: the capacity of law, democratic institutions and civil society to withstand profound pressure and to defend fundamental rights in practice. She delivered the Conference’s final guest address before the ELI President formally brought proceedings to a close.

ELI looks forward to welcoming its community to the next Annual Conference in Vienna from 20–22 September 2027.