The Role of the Council of Europe in the Pursuit of Peace, Justice and Accountability in Ukraine

“On Thursday 27 February 2025, the Dublin European Law Institute hosted a conference on The Role of the Council of Europe in the Pursuit of Peace, Justice and Accountability in Ukraine. After three years since Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine began, the bitter conflict still continues with much uncertainty about the future, there is increasing international focus on how to ensure justice as well as peace in Ukraine. At the Reykjavik Summit of Heads of State and Government in May 2023, Council of Europe Member States stressed that without accountability, there can be no lasting peace. Furthermore, Member States emphasised their resolve to stand united around the values of human rights, democracy and the rule of law in face of Russia’s war of aggression against Ukraine.

Ukraine is a key priority for the Council of Europe and much work has been done, including the establishment of a Register of Damage and progress towards developing an International Claims Commission. However, many questions remain about the potential to establish a Special Tribunal for the crime of aggression, the effectiveness of these various bodies in establishing justice, as well as the relationship between them and the existing statutory, judicial and other mechanisms within the Council of Europe framework, including the European Court of Human Rights.

This conference includes remarks from Thomas Byrne TD, Minister of State for European Affairs and Defence; H.E. Bjorn Berge, Deputy Secretary General of the Council of Europe; Prof. Jörg Polakiewicz, Legal Adviser/Director, Council of Europe; Dr. Anton Korynevych, Ambassador-at-Large, Agent of Ukraine before International Court of Justice; Prof. Michael O’Flaherty, Council of Europe Commissioner for Human Rights; and Prof. Síofra O’Leary, Former President of the European Court of Human Rights.”