PRESS RELEASE : UK Attorney General signs statement of international unity in securing justice for war crimes in Ukraine [November 2022]
The press release issued by the Attorney General on 29 November 2022.
Justice Ministers from across G7 nations signed a pledge of unwavering solidarity to the war-torn country.
The UK commitment to securing justice for the atrocities being committed in Ukraine was reaffirmed today as Justice Ministers from across G7 nations signed a pledge of unwavering solidarity to the war-torn country.
The Attorney General, Victoria Prentis MP, led the UK justice response in Berlin as signatory to a renewed commitment to international co-operation.
The Berlin Declaration seeks to strengthen cross-border responses to Russian war crimes at an international level to increase effectiveness and communication between investigative authorities.
The Attorney General, Victoria Prentis MP, said:
The conflict in Ukraine has had a devastating impact on the lives of innocent people. Like many UK families, we have invited a Ukrainian citizen into our home and heard first-hand how lives have been ruined and futures compromised by Russia’s illegal invasion.
The UK is proud of the support it has given harnessing the breadth of our legal capabilities and expertise to seek justice, but the growing importance of G7 unity is clear if we are to see accountability for the atrocities being committed. Our individual efforts must be coordinated at an international level.
Proposals in the declaration include the nomination of national contact points for coordination of the prosecution of international crimes to complement the work of existing well-established mechanisms, including Eurojust and the Genocide Network.
The declaration also recognises the vital role of non-governmental organisations (NGOs) in supporting survivors at the scene of war crimes and helping to document offences and the accounts of local people. It commits to further improving networking among criminal prosecution authorities and NGOs to streamline information flow and, in some cases, improve standards in collecting evidence and avoiding the retraumatisation of witnesses.
Deputy Prime Minister, Lord Chancellor and Justice Secretary Dominic Raab said:
War criminals should know they cannot act with impunity and we are united with international partners to ensure those responsible are held to account.
The UK has been at the forefront of the global response in assisting the International Criminal Court’s investigations, providing extra funding and expertise, and we will continue to work with likeminded countries until justice is served.
The UK has already committed a strong package of support to aid justice in Ukraine, providing £1 million and offering specialist legal and police assistance to the International Criminal Court’s investigations.
