UN Warns Families of Unlawful Killing Victims Face Global Injustice

Families of victims of unlawful killings continue to be overlooked and systematically denied their rights to justice, truth, and reparations, the United Nations Special Rapporteur on extrajudicial, summary, or arbitrary executions, Morris Tidball-Binz, warned in a powerful address to the 59th Session of the UN Human Rights Council.

Presenting his latest thematic report, Tidball-Binz shed light on the often invisible and prolonged suffering endured by the families left behind after unlawful killings—a trauma compounded by institutional indifference, procedural barriers, and, in many cases, intimidation and retaliation for demanding justice.

“There are abundant provisions in international and regional human rights instruments which provide for robust protection for the families of persons unlawfully killed,” he said. “But these are too often ignored.”

Justice Denied: The Ongoing Struggle of Victims’ Families

The report details how families frequently face psychological trauma, financial hardship, legal hurdles, and even physical threats in their efforts to seek accountability for the deaths of their loved ones. Rather than being treated as stakeholders in the justice process, they are often sidelined, discredited, or further victimized.

These challenges are particularly acute in contexts such as:

• Deaths in custody

• Migration and refugee crises

• Armed conflict zones

• State counter-terrorism operations

• Enforcement of the death penalty

• Killings where family members themselves are targeted

Tidball-Binz emphasized that these families often become the frontline defenders of human rights, despite their immense grief.

“They are among the most courageous, innovative and effective advocates for compliance by States with their human rights obligations to respect, protect and fulfil the right to life,” he said.

Families: Essential Voices in Justice and Accountability

A central focus of the report is the vital role families play in uncovering the truth and pushing for reform. Far from being passive victims, families can be critical sources of evidence and pressure for meaningful investigations. However, too often, their efforts are hampered by institutional opacity, lack of legal support, and impunity for perpetrators.

The expert underscored that families must be supported through:

• Access to legal representation

• Protection against threats and reprisals

• Access to psychosocial and trauma-informed care

• Inclusion in investigative and judicial proceedings

• Recognition as victims entitled to reparations

He also called on States to uphold their international legal obligations, citing treaties such as the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR) and regional human rights frameworks that enshrine the right to life and access to justice.

The Case of Ukraine: A Call for Comprehensive Victim Support

Tidball-Binz also presented findings from his recent official visit to Ukraine, where he met with families of victims affected by the ongoing armed conflict.

He welcomed forensic and medico-legal efforts being made to identify the deceased and gather evidence of unlawful killings, and called for these measures to be scaled up and made accessible to victims’ families.

“I greatly admire and was deeply moved by the courage and perseverance of families of victims who I had the opportunity to meet during my visit to Ukraine,” he stated. “Their dignified pursuit of truth, justice, and redress is both heartbreaking and inspiring.”

The report emphasizes the importance of expanding victim-support services to include psychosocial counseling, legal assistance, and help navigating bureaucratic processes—especially for widows and children who often face deepening poverty and marginalization after losing a family breadwinner.

Gendered Impacts and Economic Fallout

Many victims of unlawful killings are men, often the primary earners in their families. Their deaths frequently leave widows and children vulnerable to poverty, exploitation, and exclusion. Tidball-Binz called attention to the gendered impacts of these killings and the need for targeted economic and social support for bereaved families.

“Supporting families and ensuring justice and accountability is not only essential for achieving full reparations and lasting peace, but an obligation under international law,” he reiterated.

Recommendations for States and International Actors

The Special Rapporteur issued a series of recommendations to strengthen protections and support for the families of victims:

• Recognize families as secondary victims entitled to participation and reparations.

• Ensure independent, impartial, and timely investigations into all alleged unlawful killings.

• Facilitate access to legal, medical, and psychosocial services.

• Protect families from threats, reprisals, and intimidation.

• Establish public memorials and truth commissions to recognize and honor victims.

• Train law enforcement and judicial personnel to work sensitively and effectively with families.

He also urged international bodies and donors to invest in long-term victim-centered justice mechanisms, particularly in countries emerging from conflict or authoritarian rule.

Upholding the Right to Life Through Family Justice

Tidball-Binz closed his remarks by emphasizing that the pursuit of justice for unlawful killings does not end with the death of the victim—it must extend to those left behind, ensuring their pain is acknowledged, their voices heard, and their rights upheld.

“Justice delayed and denied to the families is justice denied to society,” he said. “Their resilience, courage, and quest for truth should guide us in building systems that truly protect the right to life.”