Redressing Wartime Violations: How can individuals claim their right to reparation? - Instytut Pileckiego

War inflicts profound damage on nations, non-state actors, and individuals alike—affecting both combatants and civilians. Since the end of World War II, Poland has consistently advocated for individual compensation regarding wartime violations.

This upcoming seminar features Dr. Norbert Wühler (Germany) and Prof. Aleksandra Mężykowska (Polish Academy of Sciences / Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Poland), both members of the Register of Damage for Ukraine (RD4U) and leading experts on claims, reparations, and property restitution. They will explore the forums available for individual reparation claims and examine how current legal frameworks apply to historic conflicts like WWII. This event offers a unique opportunity to discuss the future of reparations with world-renowned specialists.

The seminar will be moderated by Prof. Patrycja Grzebyk (Pilecki Institute / University of Warsaw).

Please confirm participation via the registration form:

https://forms.gle/M6qyLPFCW8DXq3bWA

About participants:

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).