News item | 02-19-2024 | 15:59
On April 2, the Netherlands, together with Ukraine and the European Commission, will organize an international ministerial conference on justice for Ukraine World Forum in The Hague. Foreign and Justice Ministers of countries involved in the fight for justice for Ukraine since the outbreak of the war will express their support for long-term efforts to combat impunity and compensate victims.
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Russian aggression against Ukraine
Russian aggression against Ukraine has been going on for almost two years. Russia bombs schools, hospitals, and other civilian objects every day, resulting in civilian casualties. In the occupied territories, the Russians torture, rape and kidnap Ukrainian citizens. The Netherlands and a large group of other countries believe that this should not go unpunished and that there should be justice for the victims.
Purpose of the conference
The aim of this conference is, on the one hand, to reflect on the substantial progress that has already been made in the field of research, documentation and organization. On the other hand, the conference serves to make further progress on the four tracks of point seven of President Zelensky’s ten-point plan for peace, in which the Netherlands is playing a leading role at the request of Ukraine:
- support for national investigation and prosecution of international crimes by Ukraine itself;
- investigation and prosecution of international crimes at international level, including the crime of aggression;
- compensation for damage suffered;
- international coordination, cooperation and information sharing.
In addition to representatives of the Netherlands, Ukraine, the European Commission and the invited countries, representatives of the International Criminal Court, the Council of Europe, the Damage Register for Ukraine, Eurojust, the International Center for the Prosecution of the Crime of AggressionIt Joint Investigation Team Ukraine and non-governmental organizations.
Finding the truth and justice
The Netherlands believes it is very important that there is truth and justice for Ukraine and all victims of Russian aggression. That is why the Netherlands supports various initiatives to this end. For example, the Netherlands supports investigations by the International Criminal Court and the Ukrainian Public Prosecution Service into international crimes committed in Ukraine. In addition, the Netherlands has sent four forensic investigative missions to Ukraine under the flag of the International Criminal Court. The Netherlands also houses the Damage Register for Ukraine and the International Center for the Prosecution of the Crime of Aggression in The Hague. Under certain conditions, including broad international political and financial support and sufficient capacity, the Netherlands will also host a future special aggression tribunal in The Hague. Because all international initiatives must also be interconnected, the Netherlands is also committed to coordination and information sharing, through, among other things, the Dialogue Group on Accountability for Ukraine.
In July 2022, the Netherlands organized the Ukraine Accountability Conference, to bring together the commitment to justice of different countries and organizations and organize coordination.