51st Session of the United Nations Human Rights Council

Virtual side event:

Examining Options of Accountability for Ukraine

Public International Law & Policy Group held a virtual side event “Examining Options of Accountability for Ukraine” on Tuesday, 27 September at 14:00 CET / 8:00 ET on the margins of the 51st session of the United Nations Human Rights Council.

The event was organized in partnership with the Permanent Mission of Ukraine in Geneva and co-sponsored by 42 members of the Group of Friends of Accountability following the aggression against Ukraine. It featured contributions by the Independent International Commission of Inquiry for Ukraine, high-level officials from Ukraine, and prominent experts in the field of international law.

The speakers discussed the means of ensuring accountability for violations and crimes committed in the context of Russian aggression against Ukraine.

Event Details:

Welcoming Remarks: Ms. Jasminka Džumhur, Member of the Independent International Commission of Inquiry on Ukraine

Speakers:

Mr. Yuriy Belousov: Head of the Directorate for Counteracting the Crimes Committed in the Context of the Armed Conflict, Prosecutor General’s Office

Ms. Kate Gibson: Counsel at the ICC

Mr. Anton Korynevych: Ambassador-at-large in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine

Prof. Milena Sterio: Professor of Law at Cleveland State University’s Cleveland-Marshall College of Law

Moderated by: Dr. Paul R. Williams, PILPG

Watch Event Recording

Co-Sponsors:

Speakers

**Mr. Yuriy Belousov:** Head of the Directorate for Counteracting the Crimes Committed in the Context of the Armed Conflict, Prosecutor General’s Office

**Mr. Anton Korynevych:** Ambassador-at-large in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine

**Prof. Milena Sterio:** Professor of Law at Cleveland State University’s Cleveland-Marshall College of Law

MODERATOR

Dr. Paul R. Williams holds the Rebecca I. Grazier Professorship in Law and International Relations at American University where he teaches in the School of International Service and at the Washington College of Law. Dr. Williams is also the co-founder of the Public International Law & Policy Group (PILPG), a pro bono law firm providing legal assistance to states and governments involved in peace negotiations, post-conflict constitution drafting, and the prosecution of war criminals. As a world renowned peace negotiation lawyer, Dr. Williams has assisted over two dozen parties in major international peace negotiations and has advised numerous parties on the drafting and implementation of post-conflict constitutions. Several of Dr. Williams' pro bono government clients throughout the world joined together to nominate him for the Nobel Peace Prize.

Dr. Williams has served as a Senior Associate with the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace, as well as an Attorney-Adviser for European and Canadian affairs at the U.S. Department of State, Office of the Legal Adviser. He received his J.D. from Stanford Law School and his Ph.D. from the University of Cambridge. Dr. Williams is a sought-after international law and policy expert. He is frequently interviewed by major print and broadcast media and regularly contributes op-eds to major newspapers. Dr. Williams has authored six books on various topics concerning international law, and has published over three dozen scholarly articles on topics of international law and policy. He has testified before the U.S. Congress on a number of occasions relating to specific peace processes, transitional justice, and self-determination. Dr. Williams is a member of the Council of Foreign Relations, and has served as a Counsellor on the Executive Council of the American Society of International Law. In 2019, Paul was awarded the Cox International Law Center's Humanitarian Award for Advancing Global Justice. More information about Dr. Williams can be found at www.drpaulrwilliams.com.