As delivered by Marija Pejčinović Burić, Secretary General of the Council of Europe

Distinguished guests and participants,

Ladies and gentlemen,

For the past fifty years, the Siracusa International Institute for Criminal Justice and Human Rights has worked to expand the boundaries of knowledge in its field –

And paved the way to action – in Europe and beyond.

Over those five decades, the challenges have evolved, and new ones have emerged.

And the response in Siracusa has been ambitious and dynamic, as it has needed to be.

At the Council of Europe, our mission is to protect and promote human rights, democracy and the rule of law.

So, we share a common outlook –

And this has enabled us to have a good and productive relationship.

Among other things, we have worked together on the Conventions on international co-operation in criminal matters –

On Arabic-language, human rights education courses for legal professionals

And on the Arabic translation –

And the publication –

Of selected Council of Europe human rights standards.

This speaks not just to our shared concerns but also of our parallel approach to the inclusion of North Africa –

Which reflects Sicily’s historic perspective –

And the neighbourhood policy pursued by the Organisation.

In reflecting on peace and security and how Europe can reinforce the global fight against impunity –

Today’s conference will address some of the most pressing issues of our time.

The Russian Federation’s brutal, illegal and ongoing aggression against Ukraine is a prism through which these can be viewed.

In breaking with the Statute, standards and values of the Council of Europe, Russia has fractured peaceful society in much of Ukraine –

Costing the lives of many Ukrainians – and indeed Russians –

And undermining the democratic security that the Council of Europe exists to protect.

This made Russia’s expulsion from our Organisation inevitable.

But impunity for its crimes is not.

Those who are responsible should be held to account.

Our shared commitment to ending criminal impunity more generally is of course deeply rooted and long standing.

And all parts of the Council of Europe have taken steps to help our member states address it.

Notably our Committee of Ministers, which has issued guidelines on eradicating impunity for serious human rights violations.

And the European Court of Human Rights which has delivered many important and related judgments.

I am also very pleased to see that today’s conference covers several topics of utmost importance to our Organisation.

Accountability for trafficking in human beings –

For sexual and gender-based violence –

And for environmental crimes –

These aims are all captured in specific Council of Europe conventions.

And there is a wide range of other activities of mutual interest for us too –

The prevention of money laundering –

The fight to end the smuggling of migrants –

And the training of legal professionals in the area of criminal law and human rights, to name just a few.

But we must always be on the lookout for new ideas, new ways to tackle the problems, and ensure justice for victims.

So, it is right that the thinking continues, as it has in Siracusa over these past five decades.

And, looking forward, I am particularly pleased that the Institute will now contribute further to the Council of Europe’s work through its participation in our Conference of International NGOs.

Congratulations on this important anniversary.