78th Session of the Third Committee of the General Assembly
Interactive dialogue with the Independent International Commission of Inquiry on Ukraine
Joint statement on behalf of the Nordic and Baltic Countries, delivered by H.E. Ms. Elina Kalkku, Permanent Representative of Finland
New York, October 25, 2023
Chair,
I have the honour of speaking on behalf of the Nordic and Baltic countries: Norway, Sweden, Denmark, Iceland, Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, and my own country Finland.
We welcome the Independent International Commission of Inquiry on Ukraine and express our full support to the mandate of the Commission.
The Commission of Inquiry on Ukraine has found substantial evidence to show that Russian authorities have committed willful killings, attacks on civilians, unlawful confinement, torture, rape, and unlawful transfers and deportations of protected persons, including forcible transfers, deportations and the illegal adoption of Ukrainian children to the territories temporarily occupied by Russia, or to Russia.
The Commission refers to numerous breaches of the Geneva Conventions, as well as to violations of International Human Rights and Humanitarian Law, that amount to war crimes. The Nordic and Baltic countries call for an immediate end to all violations and crimes. We echo the recommendations by the Commission for investigation and prosecution of all allegations of war crimes, as well as violations of human rights and International Humanitarian Law.
We underline the need to ensure full accountability for all violations of international law, following the Commission’s view that it includes both judicial and non-judicial measures, such as truth, reparations, and guarantees of non-recurrence, taking into account the needs of the victims and survivors.
Chair,
A question to Mr. Møse, Chair of the Commission: How can the international community support more the rights of the victims and further ensure accountability for the atrocious crimes committed against them?