Delivered by the Netherlands on behalf of the Group of Friends

Mr. President, Mr. Chair,

I am honoured to deliver this statement on behalf of the 'Group of Friends of Accountability following the aggression against Ukraine'.

Russia's unrelenting attacks with explosive weapons in populated areas have not only led to numerous civilian deaths and injuries, including of women and children.

They have also seriously damaged critical infrastructure, such as the Okhmatdyt children's hospital, and the country’s energy infrastructure.

These attacks on the energy infrastructure could leave millions of civilians in Ukraine without heating, electricity, and water during the coming winter months. Threatening their dignity and imperiling their lives. 
Commissioners,

Every time you brief this Council you present further evidence, which you have independently gathered and verified, that a wide range of human rights and humanitarian law violations, many amounting to war crimes have been committed by Russian authorities.

Willful killings, torture, unlawful detention of civilians.

The list of these crimes is extensive and continues to grow every day Russia chooses to continue its war of aggression against Ukraine.

We, furthermore, deplore the lack of access for international humanitarian mechanisms to places of detention where Ukrainian PoWs and civilians are held and call on Russia to provide full and unhindered access.

We will continue to seek full accountability, including for the crime of aggression.

Because victims and survivors deserve justice.

We, therefore, welcome the continued detailed and independent reporting of the  CoI, as well as the work of the HRMMU and relevant UN Special Procedure mandate holders, the investigation by the Prosecutor of the ICC into the Situation in Ukraine, the operationalization of the ICPA, the work of the Register of Damage for Ukraine, and the work of the Core Group towards  the establishment of a tribunal for the Crime of Aggression against Ukraine. 

Thank you, Mr. President.

List of members of the Group of Friends of Accountability for the Aggression against Ukraine.

1. Albania
2. Australia
3. Austria
4. Belgium
5. Bosnia-Herzegovina
6. Bulgaria
7. Canada
8. Colombia
9. Croatia
10. Cyprus
11. Czech Republic
12. Denmark
13. Estonia
14. Finland
15. France
16. Georgia
17. Germany
18. Greece
19. Guatemala
20. Iceland
21. Ireland
22. Italy
23. Japan
24. Latvia
25. Liechtenstein
26. Lithuania
27. Luxembourg
28. Malta
29. Republic of the Marshall Islands
30. Moldova
31. Montenegro
32. Kingdom of the Netherlands
33. New Zealand
34. North Macedonia
35. Norway
36. Poland
37. Portugal
38. Republic of Korea
39. Romania
40. Slovakia
41. Slovenia
42. Spain
43. Sweden
44. Switzerland
45. Ukraine
46. United Kingdom
47. United States
48. EU Delegation