Ukraine, Latvia and the Netherlands organize discussion on restoration of justice on the way to peace and human rights protection in Ukraine

On 6 October on the margins of the 54^th Session of the United Nations Human Rights Council the Permanent Missions of Ukraine, Latvia and the Netherlands organized a discussion “Restoration of Justice as the Path to Peace and Human Rights Protection in Ukraine”.

The aim of the discussion was to raise awareness of the international community in Geneva about the legal options to achieve comprehensive accountability for the crimes under international law committed by Russia on the territory of Ukraine and to access further steps in restoration of justice for all victims of the war and prevention of future crimes. In this regard, the experts stressed the importance of appropriate, fair and independent investigations and prosecutions at the national and international level.

Mr. Egils Levits, Special Representative of Latvia in matters of International Law and National Responsibility and former President of Latvia focused on seven principles, also known as Riga Principles, the guidelines towards comprehensive accountability and efficient functioning of the Register of Damage. He also addressed Latvia’s continued support to International Special Tribunal as the modality that can ensure full accountability of the Russian leadership – no wrongdoer can avoid responsibility. Ms. Iryna Mudra, Deputy Minister of Justice of Ukraine, thanked all partners and friends for tremendous support to Ukraine and its people and urged to continue work on further practical and collective measures for ensuring Russia’s accountability for destruction of cities and critical infrastructure in Ukraine on the way to implementation of the President V.Zelenskiy’s 10-point peace plan. Prof. Larissa van den Herik, Professor of Public International Law at Leiden University, stressed importance of a systemic international approach for achieving Russia’s accountability for the atrocities and crimes committed in Ukraine.

Panelists strongly condemned the Russian Federation’s aggression against Ukraine, that has led to wide-scale destruction of cities and critical infrastructure in Ukraine, mass-killings of civilians and forcible transfers of Ukrainians to Russia, including children and other serious violations of international humanitarian law and human rights. The Russian Federation must be held accountable for the crimes committed on the territory of Ukraine through appropriate, fair and independent investigations and prosecutions at the national and international level.