Press release
Minister of State James Browne attends Conference of Ministers of Justice of the Council of Europe in Riga, Latvia
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Published on
Last updated on
Minister of State James Browne has this week represented Ireland at the Council of Europe Ministers of Justice conference in Riga, Latvia. The conference is entitled “On the Path to Justice for Ukraine: Advancing Accountability, Supporting the Resilience of its Justice System and Reuniting Children with their Families”.
The Conference saw the adoption of a Declaration outlining a series of principles (“Riga principles”) to achieve comprehensive accountability for the Russian Federation’s aggression against Ukraine and provide redress to all victims of the war, including through the focused and efficient functioning of the Register of Damage caused by the aggression.
Speaking at the Conference, Minister Browne said:
“Ireland has been unequivocal and steadfast in our support for the people and Government of Ukraine following Russia’s full-scale invasion. The international community must persist in its efforts to ensure that the crime of aggression as it relates to Ukraine can be prosecuted.
"The Register of Damage is an important step in achieving accountability. Over time, we hope it will help secure full reparation for the damage caused as a result of the Russian Federation’s aggression against Ukraine.”
Minister Browne went on to add:
“We have condemned and will continue to condemn, in the strongest possible terms, the detention, abduction or kidnapping of civilians in Ukrainian territories temporarily under illegal Russian military control and insists on their unconditional release."
Minister Browne will now travel to Tallinn and Vilnius for engagements relating to EU-LISA and EU-EIGE.
The Conference of Ministers of Justice of Council of Europe was attended by representatives of 44 states and the European Union on 11 September. The Conference was divided across three sessions which discussed the need for comprehensive accountability for the Russian Federation’s aggression against Ukraine and provide redress to all victims of the war, including through the focused and efficient functioning of the Register of Damage caused by the aggression.
On 12 May 2023, the Committee of Ministers of the Council of Europe established the Register of Damage by way of a special instrument called an Enlarged Partial Agreement. Ireland was one of 37 member states of the CoE to participate in the adoption of this resolution, together with the EU, Canada, Japan, and the US. The purpose of the Register is to serve as a record, in documentary form, of evidence and information on claims of damage, loss or injury caused on or after 24 February 2022 by the Russian Federation’s actions in or against Ukraine. The Register has been established for an initial period of 3 years and is located in The Hague, with a satellite office in Ukraine.
Ukraine has made the establishment of a Special Tribunal for the prosecution of the crime of aggression a political priority. Because Ukraine and Russia are not parties to the Rome Statute the International Criminal Court does not have jurisdiction over the crime of aggression as it relates to events in Ukraine. Ireland is one of around 37 States that are members of the ’Core Group’, which aims to resolve the legal and practical issues in establishing such a tribunal.