ATHENS – The need to strengthen the international edifice for the protection of human rights, in order to more effectively address issues such as impunity at an international level, was stressed in a discussion held on Wednesday evening at the 7th Delphi Economic Forum, in the light of recent developments on the war front in Ukraine.

The discussion included Justice Minister Kostas Tsiaras, former European Commissioner Dimitris Avramopoulos, former deputy premier and foreign minister Evangelos Venizelos, who is a Professor of Constitutional Law, and the President of the international non-governmental organisation “FIGHT IMPUNITY”, Pier Antonio Panzeri.

During the discussion, the actions of “FIGHT IMPUNITY” were presented by Panzeri and Avramopoulos, who is an honorary member of the organisation’s board, which includes a number of personalities of international prestige and known experience in matters of international security and defence of human rights.

There was emphasis – among others – on the need to take initiatives so as not to repeat phenomena and situations, such as those currently being experienced globally, while Panzeri presented the actions that the organisation has launched regarding the situation in Ukraine, such as informing the European Parliament, preparing a “dossier” on allegations of war crimes, documenting the reality of human rights in a changing world, but also raising awareness among the public, which has turned its attention away from issues of human rights and impunity, as well as the leadership of Europe.

As was pointed out, the goal is a new human rights architecture with the participation of states, which will enable organisations such as the United Nations to take more effective action to address impunity on a global level.

Tsiaras: Greece is no longer a country on the margins

The role of Greece in the emerging international scene was mentioned by the justice minister, who pointed out that “Greece is no longer that country on the margins, as it may have been a few years ago, but a country that is present everywhere, that is heard and can have a real role.”

“Greece’s position has been defined by a specific identity. The country is not in an inferior position, as some believe. We have a substantial, dominant role in all the organisations which we participate in,” Tsiaras stressed, adding that it was significant that, “through our own contribution also, we are able to submit specific proposals every time and are able to defend them.”

Tsiaras admitted that it was a difficult time, “in which the challenges are once again becoming enormous,” for Greece and Europe as a whole, noting that “we are facing the consequences of a European war that is far from what we could have imagined in previous years” and that it was inevitable that its repercussions will affect the economies of mainly European countries “and will confront us with new dilemmas and choices.”

He also stressed the need for “parties and the political system to have a specific way of doing what the occasion demands of them in very critical issues, not only in matters concerning Greece’s position in the Russia-Ukraine war, but also on issues and matters concerning a more comprehensive conception of politics, citizens and society.”