First meeting of the Conference of Participants of the Register of damage caused by Russia’s Aggression against Ukraine convened

30-06-2023 

Sofía Medina Sánchez 

International Justice and Human Rights Researcher 

Global Human Rights Defence 

On the 27th of June 2023, the representatives of more than 40 countries came together for the constitutive meeting of the Conference of Participants of the Register of damage caused by the Russian Federation’s aggression against Ukraine. This Register will be a record of evidence and claims for damage, loss or injury caused to all natural and legal persons affected, in addition to the State of Ukraine by Russia’s internationally wrongful acts against it. It constitutes an important advancement towards an international compensation mechanism for victims of this aggression. 

According to the Secretary General of the Council of Europe, Marija Pejčinović Burić, “the Register needs to draw from data and information collected at the national level, on the ground, in Ukraine. For coherence, that work needs to be victim-centred too. With common methodology based on Council of Europe standards. That is why the Statute of the Register is clear about the need for a satellite office in Kyiv, and why we will continue to work hand-in-glove with the Ukrainian authorities. Ensuring that our approach is complementary and effective”. 

Moreover, Tiny Kox, the President of the Parliamentary Assembly, highlighted the importance of holding the perpetrators of war crimes, including the crime of aggression accountable, and the need to bring justice to victims, survivors, and the state of Ukraine. 

During the conference, the Permanent Representative of the United Kingdom, Sandy Moss, was elected as Chair and Tanja Gonggrijp and Emil Ruffer, the Permanent Representative of the Netherlands and the Director of the International Law Department respectively, Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Czech Republic, as Vice-Chairs. Moreover, Markiyan Kliuchkovskyi (Ukraine) was nominated Executive Director.

As of today, 43 countries of the European Union participate in the Enlarged Partial Agreement on the Register of Damage created between the 16th and 17th May 2023, at the Council of Europe Summit in Reyjkavik. Many other countries have also the intention to join. This initiative holds potential to provide justice and support to the victims of the Russian aggression and reaffirms the Council of Europe’s dedication towards upholding human rights, the rule of law and democracy. 

Sources and further reading: 

Council of Europe, Newsroom, The Conference of Participants of the Register of damage caused by Russia’s aggression against Ukraine holds its first meeting, 27 June 2023: https://www.coe.int/en/web/portal/-/the-conference-of-participants-of-the-register-of-damage-caused-by-russia-s-aggression-against-ukraine-holds-its-first-meeting.

Council of Europe Portal, Register of Damage for Ukraine: Council of Europe Summit creates Register of damage for Ukraine as first step towards an international compensation mechanism for victims of Russian aggression: https://www.coe.int/en/web/human-rights-rule-of-law/register-of-damage-for-ukraine