Roxana Diaconescu is Project Coordination Lead of the Starvation and Humanitarian Crisis Division at Global Rights Compliance (GRC), an international foundation headquartered in The Hague. Since 2015 GRC has been operating at the forefront of atrocity crime prevention and the pursuit of justice and accountability in several contexts, most notably in Ukraine. In this article, Roxana shares her story about the effort to pursue restorative justice for those affected by conflict and her journey of learning in conflict related accountability.
My experience with the Russian war against Ukraine is still quite new, as I joined my team several months ago. I am still finding my way through this crisis and adapting to a new sector, which comes with an immense opportunity to learn. While I have worked in humanitarian assistance for nearly nine years, this is my first time focusing on accountability – a shift that has been both challenging and deeply rewarding.
My journey in international development has taken me to some of the world’s most complex crises. I have worked in conflict and post-conflict settings, as well as in countries hosting large refugee populations, including Syria, Lebanon, Iraq, Turkey, and Palestine. Each of these experiences shaped my understanding of resilience, survival, and the immense responsibility we have to protect civilians and uphold justice.
At the end of last year, I was introduced to the field of accountability, which is closely connected to my academic background in Political Science. To my surprise, I found myself captivated by this area of work, although I will not hide the challenges associated with learning juridical aspects. Understanding how legal frameworks can be used to deter war crimes and seek justice for victims feels incredibly meaningful. The more I discover, the more passionate I become about contributing to this field.
Global Rights Compliance is active at the intersection of accountability and human rights. Within GRC, I am part of the Starvation and Humanitarian Crisis Division, which has been at the forefront of addressing the use of starvation as a weapon of war, especially in Ukraine. Before joining, I had observed starvation in conflicts many times, but the focus was mostly on how to overcome it through humanitarian aid and not prosecuting it to prevent it from happening again. Hearing the testimonies of those who lived through sieges or were forced to flee due to hunger and infrastructure destruction has been both heartbreaking and motivating.
Starvation as a war crime is something most people do not fully grasp until they see the impact up close. It is not just about the absence of food—it is a deliberate strategy aimed at breaking the will of communities. I have learned how siege tactics, the destruction of agriculture, the targeting of humanitarian aid, the contamination of water sources, and the strikes on electricity and heating systems are all used to force populations into submission. These crimes have been extensively documented in Ukraine, where starvation has been systematically used as a tool of war.
As a member of the Starvation Mobile Justice Team (SMJT), I oversee project management for our work in Ukraine. The team, established two years ago, is investigating starvation crimes under three thematic areas: the siege of Mariupol, the grain theft and the legality of the Black Sea blockade, and the targeted attacks on grain and port infrastructure in Odesa. The work is meticulous and often slow, requiring us to gather and analyze evidence that could one day contribute to legal action against perpetrators.
One of the most inspiring aspects of my job is working alongside my Ukrainian colleagues. Many of them live under the constant threat of attacks, with air raids on Kyiv occurring almost nightly. Despite the fear, the exhaustion, and the lack of electricity and heat, they show up every day, determined to document what is happening to their country. It is a privilege to learn from them, and it makes me even more committed to this work.
As part of our work, the team carries out investigations using different tools as well as offering technical assistance to Ukrainian prosecutors to conduct data collection and analysis and prepare cases. Furthermore, GRC has also developed a Starvation Accountability App (available on Google Play and Apple Store) designed to support field practitioners in investigating starvation crimes. We have also trained Ukrainian prosecutors and investigators on how to document attacks on critical infrastructure using open-source intelligence.
Despite these efforts, the challenges remain immense. Gathering reliable evidence is dangerous, as affected areas are often inaccessible due to security risks or changes in occupation. Navigating international legal systems is complex, especially when trying to prove intent, an essential factor in prosecuting starvation as a war crime. And, of course, funding remains a challenge, as accountability work requires long-term commitment and resources.
Still, I hold onto the belief that justice is possible. I hope that one day, those responsible for these crimes will be held accountable, and that the Ukrainian people will be able to rebuild their lives with dignity and security. Until then, I will continue learning, working, and doing whatever I can to contribute to this cause.
This article has been curated by Roland Müller for the Humanitarian Hub of The Romanian International Development Review. Foto credit: Olha Matskiv.
