Statement by the delegation of Ukraine at the Sixth Committee of the General Assembly of the United Nations on agenda item 84 “The Rule of Law at the national and international levels”

Statement by the delegation of Ukraine at the Sixth Committee of the General Assembly of the United Nations on agenda item 84 “The Rule of Law at the national and international levels”

Mr. Chairman,

Ukraine aligns itself with the statement delivered by the European Union, and we would like to make a number of comments in national capacity.

We welcome the report of the Secretary-General, which highlights the United Nations efforts to strengthen the rule of law at both national and international levels. We share the Secretary-General’s view that global problems including climate change, mass human displacement, migration, terrorism and increasingly complex conflicts require responses, grounded on the rule of law.

Ukraine fully supports the Declaration of the High-level Meeting of the General Assembly on the Rule of Law of 2012 in which we agreed, that a just and lasting peace all over the world could be achieved through the commitment to the purposes and principles of the Charter of the United Nations, international law and justice, and to an international order based on the rule of law.

Rule of law is the corner stone of Ukrainian legal order. Its development is a key element of Ukrainian reforms — judicial, police, decentralization, economic, financial and anti-corruption reform. Ukraine is making progress against corruption with the creation of independent anti-corruption institutions, introducing electronic declarations and electronic government procurements, conducting banking sectors reforms etc.

The leading international agencies have upgraded Ukraine’s ratings in different spheres. In particular, due to the firm commitment of the Government of Ukraine to uphold fundamental rights and freedoms, and successful reforms on open Government the rule of law index in Ukraine was increased according to the latest report of the World Justice Project.

Mr. Chairman,

Promotion of the rule of law at the international level is crucial for ensuring international justice and peace among the nations. International law and authoritative international courts and tribunals should be strong and effective in protection of human rights, and sovereignty and territorial integrity of states.

It is a natural interest for Ukraine to promote further the rule of law at the international level as a way to resolve disputes and ensure responsibility of states for any wrongful act. In particular:

First, though not being a State Party to the Rome Statute, on 17 April 2014 and 8 September 2015 Ukraine lodged declarations pursuant to article 12 (3). Thus, the Court may exercise jurisdiction over crimes against humanity committed against the civilian population during the Revolution of Dignity and war crimes perpetrated since the beginning of the Russian military aggression against Ukraine.

Second, Ukraine continues to pursue its case at the International Court of Justice. On 19 April this year the ICJ issued an order regarding the request for the indication of provisional measures submitted by Ukraine in the case concerning the Application of the International Convention for the Suppression of the Financing of Terrorism and of the International Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination.

In addition to the order of the UN principal judicial organ, the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights on 25 September issued the report entitled “Situation of human rights in the temporarily occupied Autonomous Republic of Crimea and the city of Sevastopol (Ukraine)” providing information on Russia’s blatant violations of its international legal obligations since the beginning of the temporary occupation of the peninsula.

We urge the Russian Federation to fully and unconditionally implement the ICJ’s Order as well as OHCHR recommendations.

Third, active work in relation to establishing accountability for the downing of Malaysia Airlines flight MH17 is ongoing. Five countries of the Joint Investigation Team decided that the prosecution and trial of the suspects would take place in the Netherlands. Recently, the respective bilateral treaty between Ukraine and the Netherlands on international legal cooperation and the JIT Memorandum of Understanding regarding political support for prosecuting the perpetrators were signed.

Mr. Chairman,

To conclude, I would like to emphasize the necessity of strengthening, promoting and advancing the rule of law. Only strong and united condemnation of all acts in violation of the purposes and principles of the Charter of the United Nations, international law, and international order based on the rule of law, could prevent the World from chaos.

Thank you.