Whitaker Institute member Dr Shane Darcy, co-leader of the Conflict, Humanitarianism and Security cluster, has authored a new piece for RTÉ Brainstorm. The article looks at the role Ireland can play in prosecuting aggression in Ukraine.
Analysis: the State’s support for the International Criminal Court can go much further in seeking accountability for Russia’s invasion of Ukraine
Announcing a voluntary contribution of €150,000 to the Office of the Prosecutor of the International Criminal Court, Minister for Foreign Affairs Simon Coveney described Ireland as a “leading supporter” of the Court. Indeed Ireland has joined with 42 other countries in the unprecedented diplomatic move of referring the situation in Ukraine to the International Criminal Court.
The Court has been empowered by this support and is already playing a role in seeking accountability for crimes in Ukraine. Prosecutor, Karim Khan, has opened an investigation, conducted an onsite visit and called on the parties to observe the applicable rules of international humanitarian law. However, the Prosecutor will not be able to charge Russia’s political or military leaders with an offence for invading Ukraine itself as things stand. Continue reading…
