On 29 February 2024, the Council of Europe contributed to the high-level conference "United for Justice. United for Heritage", organised by the Office of the Prosecutor General of Ukraine in Kyiv. The conference provided an important platform for addressing the accountability for the Russian Federation's aggression against Ukraine with a focus on the destructive impact on Ukraine's cultural heritage.
The event brought together key national and international actors, high-level political and justice sector establishment of Ukraine, Prime Minister of Ukraine, Prosecutor General of Ukraine, Ministers and Prosecutors General of several foreign State, the Prosecutor of the International Criminal Court, high-level representatives of several international organisations as well as international and national NGOs.
The Council of Europe was represented by Christos GIAKOUMOPOULOS, Director General Human Rights and Rule of Law. In the online keynote speech, the Director General highlighted “a crucial need of the meticulous documentation and effective investigation of the destruction, damage or disappearance of cultural heritage. It was further underlined that “the cultural property and objects that are proven to have been intentionally destroyed or damaged, or to have disappeared as a result of the Russian Federation aggression against Ukraine, should be an indivisible part of future reparations”. Also, Ukraine’s ratification of the Council of Europe Convention on Offences relating to Cultural Property (‘Nicosia Convention’) could certainly be beneficial as the Convention establishes specific criminal offenses related to cultural property, demonstrating a commitment to protecting and preserving cultural heritage.
The conference sessions focused on crimes against or affecting cultural heritage and various accountability mechanisms for such crimes. High-level panellists, with a wide range of backgrounds, addressed the need to combat the illicit trafficking of cultural property from conflict zones. Emphasizing the significance of international cooperation and reparations for damage, important role of the Register of Damage for Ukraine, established under the auspices of the Council of Europe, was noted. The panellists underscored the critical role of protecting and reconstructing cultural objects to safeguard our shared heritage. By showcasing their varied expertise and perspectives, the panellists contributed to a comprehensive dialogue aimed at finding effective solutions to preserve cultural treasures in the face of ongoing threats.
The conference once again reaffirmed that “no peace can be without justice and accountability”.
The Council of Europe contribution to the conference was provided within the Project “Fostering Human Rights in the Criminal Justice Field in Ukraine”, which is a part of the Council of Europe Action Plan for Ukraine “Resilience, Recovery and Reconstruction” (2023-2026).
