As Russia’s war of aggression continues and attempts to bring about a ceasefire have so far failed, participants of the Register of Damage for Ukraine gathered in Strasbourg to report progress on the work of the Register of Damage and the future Convention on the Claims Commission. By stepping up measures the Council of Europe aims to ensure accountability, compensation and measures supporting the reconstruction of Ukraine and its people.
In his opening remarks, Council of Europe Deputy Secretary General Bjørn Berge welcomed Australia to the meeting, which had recently joined the Register as an associate member. He underlined that “We will continue to stand with Ukraine, until every crime is recorded, every victim is heard, and peace – a just and lasting peace – is secured.”
Some 65,000 claims have been submitted to date. There are 13 categories of claims of the 43 that are envisaged in total. The submissions of claims continue at an average of more than 200 per day. Last month two categories were added on the abduction of children and of adults. No claims have yet been rejected and more than 12,000 have been recorded on the Register.
“The documentation of these crimes is a moral obligation and one that is crucial if there is to be just and lasting peace. Which is why the Register of Damage is so essential,” Deputy Secretary General Berge said.
The Chair of the Board, Robert Spano, and the Executive Director of the Register of Damage, Markiyan Kliuchkovskyi, gave updates on the progress made since the fifth meeting of the Conference. In addition, the Executive Director of the Centre for Civil Liberties, Sasha Romantsova, gave a briefing from the civil society point of view.
Speech by Deputy Secretary General Bjørn Berge
The Council of Europe’s work on Russia’s war in Ukraine
Deputy Secretary General Bjørn Berge
