How Can Individuals Claim Reparation for Wartime Violations? A Seminar at the Pilecki Institute - Instytut Pileckiego
16.09.2026 (Wed)
How Can Individuals Claim Reparation for Wartime Violations? A Seminar at the Pilecki Institute
On Friday, September 11, the Pilecki Institute hosted the seminar "Redressing Wartime Violations: How can individuals claim their right to reparation?" at its headquarters located at Sienna 82. The session analyzed structural mechanisms and legal frameworks for processing individual compensation regarding wartime violations.
The seminar was moderated by Prof. Patrycja Grzebyk (Pilecki Institute / University of Warsaw).
Examining historical diplomatic initiatives, Prof. Mężykowska outlined Poland's proposals at the United Nations during the 1960s regarding the codification of compensation principles. – Some say that it is an emerging one, but at the time states were convinced and expressed this conviction during the debates that the right existed, – noted Prof. Mężykowska regarding the right to reparation for victims of war crimes.
Evaluating the procedural logistics of mass claims, Dr. Wühler analyzed processing methodologies developed by the United Nations Compensation Commission. – How you deal with 2.5 million claims within a reasonable time, in a reasonable way, in a fair way, that treats similar claims in a similar way – stated Dr. Wühler, identifying the operational necessity of claim categorization.
Addressing the distribution of limited compensation funds, the discussion focused on prioritization variables. – I would not go with a system where first in, first out would be the way to make payments because that, in my view, has a number of injustices compared to large parts of the claimant population – asserted Dr. Wühler.
See the discussion:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lXY5TUrvThM
Dr Norbert Wühler, Germany
Norbert Wühler is an expert advisor on claims, reparations and property restitution. He has more than 40 years of practical experience in claims, reparation and restitution programs in Bosnia-Herzegovina, Colombia, Germany, Iraq, Kenya, Kosovo, Nepal, Palestine, Sierra Leone, Sri Lanka, Syria, Ukraine and Yemen. He was a Legal Adviser of the President and Deputy Secretary-General at the Iran-U.S. Claims Tribunal, Chief of the Legal Service of the UN Compensation Commission, Director of Claims and Compensation Programs at IOM, and a Member of the Kosovo Property Claims Commission. Dr. Wühler currently serves on the Board of the Global Survivors Fund and the Board of the Register of Damage for Ukraine.
Prof. Aleksandra Mężykowska, Poland
Aleksandra Mężykowska is an Associate Professor at the Department of Constitutional Law and European Research at the Institute of Law Studies of the Polish Academy of Sciences and a Principal Adviser in International Law at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Poland. She has 15 years of experience as Co-Agent of Poland before the European Court of Human Rights. As part of her academic research, Aleksandra has analysed the financial responsibility of CEE countries under the restitution and reprivatisation laws, with a particular emphasis on the standard of compensation.
Prof. Patrycja Grzebyk, Poland
Patrycja Grzebyk is an Associate Professor at the Faculty of Political Science and International Studies of the University of Warsaw and an expert of the Pilecki Institute. Her academic research is focused on responsibility for international crimes, in particular for war crimes. She is an author of numerous publications including: The Russian-Ukrainian Conflict and War Crimes (Routledge: 2025); Polish Contributions to International Criminal Law (Brill: 2026); Human and Non-Human Targets in Armed Conflicts (CUP: 2022); Criminal responsibility for the crime of aggression (Routledge: 2013).
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