“We all wish for peace in Ukraine. But that peace must be sustainable. To be sustainable it must be just. And, to be just, it must have accountability at its core”, declared Secretary General Marija Pejčinović Burić at the opening of the Justice Ministers’ Informal Conference held under the Latvian Presidency of the Committee of Ministers.
The event entitled “On the Path to Justice for Ukraine: Advancing Accountability, Supporting the Resilience of its Justice System and Reuniting Children with their Families,” has officially launched the Register of Damage Caused by the Aggression of the Russian Federation against Ukraine, established at the Reykjavik Summit, to record the loss and destruction being inflicted by Russia.
“The Register is a first and necessary step towards any future compensation mechanism. The Council of Europe is ready to contribute its expertise in whatever way is helpful. Similarly, on creating a special tribunal for the crime of aggression against Ukraine” underlined the Secretary General.
The conference provided an opportunity to evaluate the progress in the investigation of war crimes committed by Russia in Ukraine and the implementation of the Council of Europe Action Plan for Ukraine for 2023-2026.
“We must continue to work together on reuniting families and supporting Ukrainian children who found refuge in other European countries, to help ensure robust, human rights’ compliant justice. As for the Register, a victim-centred approach based on the Organisation’s standards, covering the full spectrum of damage: from the destruction of property to violence against women and sexual violence linked to the conflict”, highlighted the Secretary General in her conclusions.
