Families Meet for a Roundtable in Kyiv
Families, advocates, and lawmakers discussed how to make support simpler and more humane — from a disappearance to a homecoming.
Civil-society organisations and families of POWs and the missing
Engagement. Influence. Freedom
« if we're together, we can »
Uniting expertise and families to bring the captured and the missing home
We are a joint platform of civil-society organisations and families of prisoners of war and the missing. Together we shape effective policy at home and abroad, defend the rights of the captured, and hold russia to account.
з 2014
since the beginning of military aggression against Ukraine
100 000+
persons officially registered as missing
406
Ukrainian defenders and civilians killed in captivity due to torture
тисячі
prisoners held in inhumane conditions without official status
Why we exist
Joint Platform 'Engagement. Influence. Freedom'
A coalition of civil society organizations and families of defenders, uniting efforts to improve state policy, protect the rights of prisoners, search for the missing, and address the consequences of war.
Since 2014, military and informational aggression against Ukraine has continued. russian occupiers systematically use the pain of loss, uncertainty, and psychological pressure as weapons against Ukrainian society, ignoring international humanitarian law and concealing information about the fates of thousands of Ukrainians.
The Joint Platform 'Engagement. Influence. Freedom' brings together the practical and expert experience of human rights defenders and affected families. We work to systematically reform state policy on protecting the rights of prisoners and the missing, and engage in active international advocacy to hold the aggressor accountable.
Key Challenges
- Imperfections in state policy, legislative gaps, and lack of coordination among authorities in searching for and protecting victims.
- Limited access of families to timely information about their loved ones, alongside a severe shortage of legal, social, and psychological support.
- Ineffectiveness of existing international human rights instruments and limited access of human rights missions to detention sites.
- Insufficient international pressure on russia to enforce compliance with the Geneva Conventions and release captured Ukrainians.
- Critical psycho-emotional exhaustion of family members and advocates due to prolonged uncertainty over the fate of their loved ones.
- Fragmented civil sector efforts, leading to scattered resources and highlighting the need for institutional strengthening of coalitions.
About us
Our mission and vision
Our mission
To unite the effort and expertise of civil-society organisations, shaping effective policy at home and internationally, and easing the social consequences of the war in Ukraine.
Our vision
A recognised expert platform in Ukraine and abroad that influences how policy is shaped and delivered, and helps resolve the social problems caused by the war.
Our principles
Our values and principles
01
Courage
We act amid uncertainty, take responsibility for hard decisions, and speak openly about the problem at home and abroad — for prisoners of war, the missing, and their families.
02
National identity
We stand as part of the Ukrainian people and draw strength from that belonging as we defend the country's interests and justice for its people.
03
Human freedom
Human freedom and dignity come first, and every step we take works to restore freedom to those stripped of it by russia's armed aggression.
04
People first
At the heart of every decision is a real person — their rights, freedoms, and needs.
05
One team
We work as one team, where each member's experience and resources become shared support for a shared goal.
06
Partnership
We stay open to dialogue and partnership with the state, international institutions, and society, because systemic change happens only through cooperation.
07
Resilience
We see the work through, recover our strength, and keep the effort going despite pressure, obstacles, and uncertainty.
08
Rigour
We build on clear rules, deep expertise, legal precision, and verified facts — the foundation of trust and results.
What we do
What we do
Three directions in which dozens of organisations act as one voice — for the return of those held and the families who wait for them.
01
Advocacy and engagement with the state
We work to make the national system for finding the missing and bringing prisoners home genuinely effective — and to give families a real voice in the decisions behind it.
- An advocacy campaign to improve how the national search-and-return system works.
- A permanent place for the Platform in state consultative and advisory bodies.
02
International advocacy
We keep the world's attention on the fate of the missing and the captive, and increase pressure on the aggressor state, russia.
- A dedicated international advocacy strategy, from first steps to a lasting presence.
- Ongoing engagement with governments, parliaments and international institutions.
03
Organisational capacity
We are building a stable, independent organisation able to attract resources, coordinate its members, and care for the people who carry the work.
- A clear institutional model and transparent rules for working together.
- Fundraising and communications strategies built for the long haul.
- Support for the resilience and wellbeing of everyone involved.
Coalition
Platform members
15 civil-society organisations and family associations from across Ukraine.
N
Kyiv NGO 'Media Initiative for Human Rights' (MIHR)
A human rights organization investigating war crimes and other human rights violations committed during the russian aggression. MIHR also provides comprehensive support to the families of prisoners of war and missing persons.
N
Sumy Oblast NGO 'Union of Families of the Missing of Sumy Oblast'
An association of families of service members who are missing or held in russian captivity. The organization provides legal and coordination support to families and advocates for their rights before state authorities.
N
Kyiv / Mykolaiv NGO 'Heritage UA' / UA.HERITAGE
A cultural and educational platform using art as a tool for social impact and support for the families of the missing. The organization highlights the issues of captivity and cultural resistance in Ukraine.
N
Kyiv NGO 'Voyatsky Vyzwil' (Warriors' Liberation)
A human rights organization uniting families of missing and captured Ukrainian defenders. It advocates for the rights of soldiers globally, documents war crimes, and provides comprehensive support to families.
N
Dnipro / Kryvyi Rih NGO 'All-Ukrainian Public Movement of Mothers and Relatives of ATO Participants 'Berehynia'
A non-profit association protecting the rights of families of missing and captured defenders since 2014. The organization cooperates with state institutions and conducts international advocacy to free Ukrainians.
N
Kyiv NGO 'Epoch of the Unbroken'
The organization provides legal, informational, and psychological support to the families of fallen, wounded, captured, and missing heroes. It also runs medical and spiritual rehabilitation programs.
A
Lviv Oblast / Kyiv Oblast Association of Families 'Woven of Struggle'
An association of families of captured, missing, and fallen warriors, established in 2024. It conducts information campaigns, cultural actions like the 'Hope Towel', and provides spiritual support to relatives.
A
Sumy / Kyiv All-Ukrainian NGO 'Association of Mothers and Wives of Ukrainian Defenders'
Established in 2014 after the battles of Ilovaisk, this organization unites over 3,000 members and holds UN ECOSOC consultative status. Its focus includes advocacy, social, and psychological protection for families.
N
Sumy, Sumy Oblast NGO 'Slobozhanshchyna Women's Movement'
The organization protects the rights and interests of women affected by war, including IDPs and female relatives of service members, missing, and captured. It provides legal, social, and psychological aid.
N
Mykolaiv Oblast / Kherson Oblast NGO 'Time to Gather Ukrainians'
A human rights organization providing legal, psychological, and informational support to the families of missing and captured defenders and civilians. The team also documents war crimes and supports children.
I
Kyiv Initiative Group 'Association of Families of the Missing and Captured of the 72nd Mechanized Brigade and the 48th Rifle Battalion'
A community for mutual support and information exchange between families of soldiers from the 72nd Brigade and 48th Battalion. It facilitates search efforts, interactions with state organs, and family rights protection.
N
Varash Raion, Rivne Oblast NGO 'Center for Psychosocial Support'
The organization focuses on strengthening mental health and reducing stress among the population. It supports veterans and families of the missing, and promotes social cohesion within communities.
N
Kyiv NGO 'Women of the Territorial Defense Forces' (Zhinky TRO)
A community of over 2,000 members supporting the families of missing, captured, and fallen warriors of the Territorial Defense Forces. It hosts large-scale awareness events and assists veterans with rehabilitation.
C
Ukraine Charitable Foundation 'Civilians in Captivity'
The foundation provides humanitarian, legal, and psychological support to civilian hostages unlawfully held in russia and temporarily occupied territories, and their families. It actively advocates internationally.
N
Kyiv NGO 'Civilians Free'
The organization protects the rights of civilian hostages unlawfully detained in russia and temporarily occupied territories, representing them before state and international bodies. It also runs cultural advocacy projects.
Together
Our Partners
The Joint Platform brings together human rights and civil society organizations that stand by the families of prisoners of war and missing persons and work to bring their loved ones home.
Public Council of the Coordination Headquarters for the Treatment of Prisoners of War
Center for Civil Liberties
Legal Hundred (Yurydychna Sotnia)
ZMINA Human Rights Centre
Kharkiv Human Rights Protection Group
Legal Development Network
Right to Protection (R2P)
SICH Human Rights Organization
Ukrainian Helsinki Human Rights Union
UNDP Ukraine
OSCE Monitoring Mission
Supported by
This project is carried out with the support of the International Commission on Missing Persons (ICMP).
ICMP
Latest
News & articles
Sample posts (prototype) — this section will be editable via a CMS.
A Delegation of Families Takes Part in an International Forum
Coalition representatives shared their search-and-tracing experience with international partners and called for stronger protection of prisoners' rights.
Parliament Reviews a Bill on Support for Families of the Missing
A new bill aims to simplify families' access to social guarantees and to a single source of verified information.
Join the common cause
Join the Platform
We invite civil-society organisations that defend the rights of prisoners of war and the missing to join us. Together we speak with one voice — and that voice carries further, at home and internationally.
Become a memberSupport the Platform
Steady work needs steady support. Backing from business, donors and partners lets us sustain expert advocacy, stand alongside families, and keep international attention on those held captive or still missing.
Support usGet in touch
Whether you are a family seeking support, a journalist, an institution, or someone who simply wants to help — please reach out. We are open to dialogue and to working together.
Contact us