G7 justice ministers adopt Berlin Declaration on aid to Ukraine

This is stated in the Declaration published on the website of the German Ministry of Justice.

The signatories of the declaration condemned Russia's war against Ukraine, stressing that Russia grossly violates international law, including the UN Charter. The participants of the meeting also condemned the ongoing attacks, killings and injuries of civilians, non-combatants and prisoners of war, kidnappings of children, systematic and targeted attacks on critical infrastructure and harming medical workers and institutions, as well as conflict-related sexual and gender-based violence in Ukraine.

"War crimes and other atrocities must not go unpunished. Prosecution of major crimes under international law is a priority for us," the document states.

The declaration emphasized the cross-border cooperation between countries, within their national legislation, to investigate these crimes, bring the guilty to the maximum possible penalty, and restore justice for the victims and survivors.

At the meeting, the ministers emphasized the importance of quick and effective contact between investigative authorities of different countries. They also declared the need to coordinate investigations at an early stage. The parties will try to use available and proven mechanisms, according to their powers.

Thus, the Genocide Network will serve as a network of national focal points to facilitate the exchange of information on investigations of war crimes, crimes against humanity and genocide. The European Judicial Network (EJN) will act as a network of contact points for cross-border judicial authorities.

Eurojust, due to the recent extension of prerogatives, will now be able to conduct investigations at national and international levels.

International partners also announced their intention to share their practices in working with victims and witnesses as part of the investigation, pledged to cooperate with the Ukrainian authorities to help victims and witnesses, and continue to increase their support.

"It is necessary to join all efforts for a quick, effective and coordinated war crimes investigations. Democracy, human rights and the rule of law still have weight and power, they exist not only on paper - we must prove this to Russia and remind the whole world," summed up the participants of the meeting.

The Ministers of Justice of Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, Great Britain and the USA, as well as the Minister of Justice and the Prosecutor General of Ukraine, the EU Commissioner for Justice, the Prosecutor General of the International Criminal Court took part in the meeting.