Copenhagen, 23 September 2022 (TDI): Foreign Minister of Denmark, Jeppe Kofod, announced the launch of a Danish-led project to support evidence collection for international crimes committed in Ukraine.
Happy to announce that Danish-led project will support evidence collection for int’l crimes in #Ukraine. USD 1 million funding from DK government. We must do all we can to ensure that the perpetrators are held to account. #dkpol @DignityDK https://t.co/CjFBh2S2UU
— Jeppe Kofod (@JeppeKofod) September 22, 2022
Since the start of the Russian invasion of Ukraine, Denmark has tried to make sure that individuals in Ukraine who performed crimes against humanity would be held accountable. The Denmark new initiative will add to these efforts.
Danish Ministry of Foreign Affairs will support the Danish-led project. The project will help to collect evidence of international crimes and human rights violations committed in Ukraine.
Remarks by Foreign Minister of Denmark
Foreign Minister Jeppe Kofod announced the project at the 77th high-level week of the UN General Assembly in New York. Danish Minister for Foreign Affairs stated that,
“The Russian forces have advanced in Ukraine with unprecedented brutality. The pictures of mass graves and abused corpses in Izyum speak for themselves.
It has been a key priority of Denmark to ensure that those responsible for the atrocities committed will be held accountable since the beginning of the invasion.
And I am proud that Denmark will contribute to ensuring that evidence will be collected for the investigation through this project. It is crucial to conduct legal proceedings and eventually convict those responsible.
The Danish civil society organization, DIGNITY, will lead the project financed by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs for 1 million USD.
Through the project, Ukrainian civil society actors will be supported in the collection and storage of evidence for it to be handed over to the Ukrainian national prosecution authorities and the International Criminal Court (ICC) and form part of the investigation of international crimes.
The project will also focus on the proper treatment of victims and witnesses to avoid the reliving of potential trauma.”
CEO at DIGNITY Rasmus Grue Christensen stated, “At DIGNITY, we look forward to playing a significant role in promoting documentation and possible prosecution of international crimes in Ukraine.
Together with our Ukrainian partners, we can make a concrete and positive difference amid the horrors of war. We are proud to be able to shoulder this responsibility and grateful to the Minister of Foreign Affairs and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs for their cooperation on this important agenda.”
Also Read: Denmark to jointly prosecute Russian war crimes in Ukraine
Denmark’s support for Ukraine
Since the start of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, Denmark has backed initiatives to ensure responsibility for transnational crimes committed there. Denmark has also given the court’s work significant financial assistance and contributed Danish experts to the court’s investigation team.
Furthermore, Denmark is one of the co-chairs of a cross-regional group of allies in the UN that works to keep the focus on holding Russia responsible for the crimes against humanity committed in Ukraine.
DIGNITY, the organization, has in-depth knowledge of documenting international crimes, including gender-based violence.
One of Ukraine’s most renowned human rights groups, the Kharkiv Human Rights Protection Group (KHPG), and DIGNITY have partnered on a new project on holding Ukrainian criminals accountable.
