Protecting victims remains an “unconditional priority”, even during times of war. That’s according to the Motor (Transport) Insurance Bureau of Ukraine (MTIBU), who have joined the growing, international list of supporters of the Charter of Road Traffic Victims’ Rights.
The Charter is a set of ideals that have been developed to act as a code of conduct for all those involved in the provision of compensation to the victims of road traffic accidents. Using the UN’s Universal Declaration of Human Rights as inspiration, it was developed by the secretariat of the United Nations Economic Commission for Europe (UNECE), the Institute for European Traffic Law (IETL) and COB. The document outlines 10 core principles which seek to ensure all victims of road traffic accidents are provided with a high level of care and clarity. It is supported by insurance companies, claims handling offices, brokers, Green Card Bureaux, Compensation Bodies and Guarantee Funds across Europe and beyond.
MTIBU is the sole association of insurance companies providing mandatory civil liability insurance for owners of land vehicles for damage caused to third parties (MTPL). Established in 1994, the Bureau operates under the Ukrainian MTPL law. MTIBU ensures the protection of road traffic accident victims, coordinates the activities of MTPL insurers, and implements innovations in the MTPL sector to enhance convenience and safeguard consumers. As of 2025, the Bureau comprises 26 member insurance companies.
Speaking about becoming an official supporter of the Charter, Oleksandr Bernaziuk, Chairman of MTIBU said, “One of the key reasons why MTIBU decided to support the Charter of Road Traffic Victims’ Rights is our consistent position on strengthening the protection of victims of road traffic accidents and continuously improving claims handling standards. The principles set out in the Charter fully align with MTIBU’s strategic priorities – transparency, fairness, timely compensation, and clear, comprehensible communication with victims.
“For Ukraine, this decision also has a broader context. Despite the extremely challenging conditions of wartime, the MTPL insurance system continues to operate in a stable manner, and the protection of victims’ rights remains an unconditional priority. By supporting the Charter, we reaffirm that these values remain unchanged regardless of external challenges.
“Although the Charter is advisory in nature, it plays an important role in shaping a common European approach to the protection of road traffic victims’ rights. It sets clear benchmarks for good practice and encourages all market participants to continuously improve the quality of service provided to victims.
“Supporting the principles of the Charter is critically important because they place the individual – rather than procedures – at the centre of the claims settlement process. Behind every insurance claim there is a person who has experienced stress, loss, or injury, particularly in the case of cross-border road traffic accidents, where the victim may find themselves in a foreign country. Ensuring dignified treatment, transparency, and fairness at every stage of the claims process is fundamental to building trust in the MTPL insurance system.
“We are confident that the principles of the Charter will be positively received by MTIBU members. They are fully aligned with the ongoing reform of the MTPL market in Ukraine and our strategic course towards harmonisation with European standards. The Charter reinforces approaches that many insurers are already implementing in practice and provides a shared framework for strengthening trust in the market as a whole,” Mr. Bernaziuk concluded.
Additional information about the Charter of Road Traffic Victims’ Rights is available on https://www.crtvr.org/
