Informal Conference of the Ministers of Justice – “Towards Accountability for International Crimes Committed in Ukraine”
Vilnius, 5 September 2024
Concluding remarks by Gianluca Esposito, Director General of Human Rights and Rule of Law, Council of Europe
Start by thanking the Lithuanian Presidency for hosting this important and topical conference, and for their excellent hospitality.
Also thank you to the Ministers and Heads of Delegation who by their presence and contributions today have confirmed the urgency and priority with which we must deal with the crimes being committed in and against Ukraine.
Justice requires accountability for the perpetrators of international crimes, and it requires redress for the victims.
Since the start of Russia’s illegal and unprovoked war of aggression against Ukraine, the Council of Europe has been at the forefront of efforts to reinforce the international legal order and ensure accountability.
The establishment of our Register of Damage Caused by the Aggression of the Russian Federation against Ukraine, with its growing catalogue of claims, marks the first step towards a mechanism that will ensure justice and compensation for Ukraine and its people.
During this Conference, you have discussed gaps in international accountability mechanisms and potential next steps.
Alongside the Rome Statute of the International Criminal Court and the Ljubljana – Hague Convention on Mutual Legal Assistance, the Council of Europe Conventions on international cooperation in criminal matters are highly relevant and timely.
Whether on extradition, mutual assistance, transfer of Sentenced Persons, transfer of proceedings, or on cybercrime, electronic evidence and asset recovery, our treaties constitute a solid legal basis on which countries can cooperate to bring perpetrators of crimes to justice.
You have also discussed the issue of the special tribunal for the crime of aggression against Ukraine.
We at the CoE are ready to support it, in whatever format it is created. As you know, the Core Group is discussing various options, including our own proposal of a bilateral agreement between Ukraine and our Organisation – Supported by an Enlarged Partial Agreement. This is a solid option and there are precedents for it. That said, it is for states to decide how to proceed. Whatever is decided, we will support the outcome.
The potential steps discussed during the Conference are reflected in the Declaration agreed today, alongside specific matters such as securing and using reliable evidence and conducting trials or proceedings in absentia.
The aim remains that those responsible are held to account. There can be no impunity for the crimes committed.
Before I conclude, I would also like to congratulate those States and the EU that signed the Council of Europe Framework Convention on Artificial Intelligence and Human Rights, Democracy, and the Rule of Law, the first global treaty regulating AI . This treaty is - in effect - the first global regulation on AI. I hope that all states present here will sign and ratify it asap.
