The Role of the Council of Europe in the Pursuit of Peace, Justice and Accountability
On Thursday, 27 February 2025, the Dublin European Law Institute will host a conference on The Role of the Council of Europe in the Pursuit of Peace, Justice and Accountability in Ukraine. It has been three years since Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine, a major escalation in a war that began in 2014. Though the bitter conflict still continues with much uncertainty about the future, there is increasing international focus on how to ensure justice as well as peace in Ukraine. At the Reykjavik Summit of Heads of State and Government in May 2023, Council of Europe Member States stressed that without accountability, there can be no lasting peace. Furthermore, Member States emphasised their resolve to stand united around the values of human rights, democracy and the rule of law in face of Russia’s war of aggression against Ukraine.
Ukraine is a key priority for the Council of Europe and much work has been done, including the establishment of a Register of Damage and progress towards developing an International Claims Commission. However, many questions remain about the potential to establish a Special Tribunal for the crime of aggression, the effectiveness of these various bodies in establishing justice, as well as the relationship between them and the existing statutory, judicial and other mechanisms within the Council of Europe framework, including the European Court of Human Rights. The Conference will be an opportunity to consider all of these issues in more detail. View the full event programme here. Register to attend.
Location: FTG11, Polaris Building, DCU Glasnevin
10h
Welcome: Prof. Daire Keogh, President of Dublin City University
1010 – 1020h
Department of Foreign Affairs
1020 – 1030h
H.E. Larysa Gerasko, Ambassador of Ukraine to Ireland
1030 – 1045h
Keynote Address: The Role of the Council of Europe in Supporting Peace, Justice & Accountability in Ukraine
H.E. Bjorn Berge, Deputy Secretary General of the Council of Europe
Introduced by Prof. Derek Hand, Executive Dean, Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences, DCU
1045 – 1130h
Russia, the Council of Europe and the European Convention on Human Rights: A Troubled Membership and Its Legacy
Moderator: Dr. Tanya Ní Mhuirthile, Head of School of Law and Government, DCU
Panellists:
- Dr. Ed Bates, University of Leicester
- Prof. Kanstantsin Dzehtsiarou, University of Liverpool
- Dr. Andrew Forde, Dublin City University
1130 – 1145h – Tea/Coffee/Networking
1145h – 12h
The Role of the European Court of Human Rights in contributing to Justice in Ukraine
Prof. Síofra O’Leary, Former President of the European Court of Human Rights
12 – 1215h
Introduced by Dr. Andrew Forde, Dublin City University
Towards a Special Tribunal for the Crime of Aggression against Ukraine within the Framework of the Council of Europe
Prof. Jörg Polakiewicz, Legal Adviser/Director, Council of Europe
Introduced by Dr. Andrew Forde, Dublin City University
1215 – 1330h
A Special Tribunal for the Crime of Aggression against Ukraine – Prospects, Politics and Practicalities
Chair: Dr. Andrew Forde, Dublin City University
Panellists:
- Dr. Anton Korynevych, Ambassador-at-Large, Agent of Ukraine before International Court of Justice
- Dr. Kateryna Busol, Associate Professor, Kyiv-Mohyla Academy; British Academy Research Fellow, British Institute of International and Comparative Law
- Prof. Shane Darcy, Deputy Director, Irish Centre for Human Rights
- Declan Smyth, Legal Advisor, Department of Foreign Affairs
1330 – 1430h – Lunch / Networking
1430 – 1445h
Human Rights in Areas of Conflict – An Inescapable Reality for the Council of Europe
Prof. Michael O’Flaherty, Council of Europe Commissioner for Human Rights
Introduced by Prof. Federico Fabbrini, Dublin City University
1445 – 16h
Securing Peace and Justice in Ukraine in a Divided World
Chair: Prof. Federico Fabbrini, Founding Director of the Dublin European Law Institute, Dublin City University
Panellists:
- Zera Kozlieva, Legal Director, Truth Hounds
- Dr. Tetyana Lokot, Dublin City University
- Dr. Svitlana Starosvit, ASIL International Law Fellow
View the event programme here. Register to attend.