Foreign Secretary speech in Lviv on the Special Tribunal
David Lammy outlines UK support for the establishment of the Special Tribunal for the Crime of Aggression against Ukraine during a visit to Lviv, Ukraine.
It is a fitting time and place for this discussion.鈥€�
It is remarkable that eighty years ago, Allied governments were dealing with detained Nazis, and thinking about accountability for the聽atrocities.鈥�
Some considered simple revenge.鈥€燘ut others favoured a different approach.鈥€�
Holding those criminals accountable under international law.鈥€�
Drawing in part on work by two great sons of this great city, Rafael Lemkin鈥疭ir Hersch鈥疞auterpacht.聽
The resulting Nuremberg trials were a milestone in building a global order rooted in the rule of law and human rights.鈥€�
Today, the pursuit鈥痮f such a global order again seems a tall order.鈥�
Russia is waging a war of aggression,鈥痺ith mounting evidence鈥痶hat Russian soldiers are鈥痗ommitting atrocities we would have hoped to consign to history - attacks鈥痺hich鈥痳ain down on civilians, the鈥痙eportation鈥痮f鈥痗hildren,鈥痶orture and sexual abuse鈥痮f鈥痗ivilians and prisoners of war.鈥€�
Russian leaders鈥痵how not the slightest concern for the鈥痩ives鈥痮f individuals or the laws of war.鈥€�
But we need to remember figures like Lemkin were not na茂ve idealists.鈥營ndeed, Sir Hersch wrote about anchoring his philosophy of international law in the 鈥榬ealities of international life鈥�.鈥�
Precisely our task today.鈥€�
We have it in our hands to hold those responsible for the invasion of Ukraine to account.鈥燭he UK is proud to have supported the idea of a Special Tribunal since the outset.聽
A Tribunal is an essential part of the armoury of justice, alongside the efforts of Ukrainian authorities to bring prosecutions inside Ukraine, and the work of the ICC.鈥€�
As the country where Sir Hersch made his home, we are proud to鈥痵upport鈥痶he鈥疞viv Joint Statement and endorse the鈥痩egal foundations鈥痜or this Tribunal.鈥�
It will take time for a Tribunal to become operational.鈥疻e support鈥痷sing the鈥痜ramework鈥痮f the鈥疌ouncil of Europe. But also believe we must expand the Core Group to鈥痬ore partners鈥痜rom鈥痓eyond Europe.聽聽聽
The whole world is outraged at Russian crimes. The whole world should now come together to hold Russia to account.聽We must rally all countries in support of justice.鈥�
Our friends in Ukraine are staying true to the legacy of VE Day.鈥�
The legacy of Lemkin and Sir Hersch.聽
Thank you.