On 24 June in Lviv, Ukraine, Council of Europe Deputy Secretary Bjørn Berge attended the International Conference "Unbroken Justice" and the opening of a mental health centre for the treatment of victims of captivity and torture. The events gathered some 350 participants, such as doctors, lawyers, veterans, journalists, students and government officials.
The Deputy Secretary General expressed his gratitude to the City of Lviv for hosting this critical event in a city forever linked to the foundations of international justice. Lviv being the birthplace of Rafael Lemkin and Hersch Lauterpacht who originated the term "genocide" and developed the concept of "crimes against humanity."
Participating in a panel discussion on international crimes and justice "Accountability for genocide and aggression," he stressed that "Responding to the needs of victims is imperative for peace, justice and reconciliation. The treatment centre, inaugurated during this event, stands as a symbol of this commitment. Located on a street newly named after Raphael Lemkin, their legacy continues today in your dedicated efforts to document the consequences of Russia's aggression."
Other speakers in the panel included Professor of Law and Director of the Centre on International Courts and Tribunals at University College London Philippe Sands, Deputy Minister of Justice of Ukraine Oleksandr Banchuk, Director of the International Cooperation Bureau of the General Prosecutor's Office of Poland, Mirosław Jerzy Ivanicki, and Professor of Constitutional Law and Global Health Policy at Georgetown University Law Center, Michele Goodwin.
