The Council of Europe, in co-operation with the Office of the Prosecutor General of Ukraine and international partners, co-organised the 9th High-level Conference “United for Justice: Accountability for Crimes against Civilians” on 7 May 2026. This important event provided an excellent platform to address on-going challenges in the investigation and prosecution of war crimes against civilians committed in Ukraine. The conference brought together representatives of national authorities, international organisations, practitioners and experts dedicated to advancing accountability for international crimes committed in the context of the Russian Federation’s war of aggression against Ukraine. It enabled the exchange of information, fostered dialogue on best practices, and helped identify priorities for future action.
In his opening remarks, Claus Neukirch, Director of Programme Co-ordination of the Council of Europe, reaffirmed the Council of Europe’s unwavering support for accountability efforts concerning war crimes committed against Ukraine, referring in particular to initiatives such as the Register of Damage for Ukraine, the future Compensation Commission, and the establishment of the Special Tribunal for the Crime of Aggression Against Ukraine. He also outlined the broader framework of expert support that the Council of Europe continues to provide in the areas of rule of law, criminal justice reform and human rights protection.
Panel discussions focused, inter alia, on the harmonisation of Ukrainian legislation with international criminal law standards following the country’s ratification of the Rome Statute of the International Criminal Court. In this context, participants also discussed proceedings conducted in absentia, including their compliance with Council of Europe standards and the importance of preventing potential violations of the European Convention on Human Rights as interpreted by the European Court of Human Rights.
Another key topic addressed during the conference concerned crimes committed against Ukrainian children. Thórdís Kolbrún Reykfjord Gylfadóttir, Special Envoy of the Secretary General of the Council of Europe on the situation of children of Ukraine, highlighted the Council of Europe’s on-going efforts to assist Ukraine in addressing the extremely complex challenges posed by the forcible transfer and deportation of children, systematic delays in their return, exposure to ideological indoctrination and propaganda, and the broader implications of such practices for the preservation of Ukrainian identity.
Participants exchanged views on practical recommendations and possible next steps that could serve as a roadmap for further co-operation with the Office of the Prosecutor General and other state authorities in addressing these issues.
The event was organised in the framework of the Council of Europe project “Fostering Human Rights in the Criminal Justice System in Ukraine – Phase II”, which is a part of the Council of Europe Action Plan for Ukraine “Resilience, Recovery and Reconstruction” 2023-2026.
