Boštjan Škrlec, Pere Joan Pons and Tomoko Akane in The Hague, 7 July 2026 THE HAGUE, 7 July 2026 – Meeting in plenary session in The Hague for a general debate on “International Law and Shared Principles: Foundations for Security and Co-operation in the OSCE Area,” lawmakers today reaffirmed the OSCE Parliamentary Assembly’s commitment to international humanitarian law and international human rights law as cornerstones of multilateralism and justice.

The debate was introduced with keynote speeches by President of the International Criminal Court Tomoko Akane and Boštjan Škrlec, Chair of the Board on Relations with Partners of the European Union’s Agency for Criminal Justice Cooperation, also known as Eurojust.

In her remarks, ICC President Akane noted that all states are bound by rules and legal obligations that they have freely agreed to implement, stressing that the strength of the international rule of law ultimately depends on the willingness of states to respect and defend it. In this regard, she underlined the unique responsibility of parliamentarians to uphold these principles.

“Your support for international treaties, your commitment to implementing international obligations under domestic law, and your engagement with multilateral institutions all contribute to a stronger and more effective international legal order,” she said. “At a time when geopolitical tensions are increasing and international norms are under pressure, your leadership is more important than ever.”

In his address, Škrlec provided an overview of the work of Eurojust, describing it as an institution where prosecutors, investigators and judges from many different countries meet to discuss co-operation – both in strategic terms and in real-life cases. This, he said, helps to support international law and the rule of law, and to ensure that justice is achieved.

“In the 21st century, no state or institution can address crimes alone. This can no longer be done in isolation,” Škrlec said. “Only by reinforcing partnerships can we effectively protect the principles of international law we all adhered to.”

He underlined that this is where Eurojust plays a vital role, highlighting in particular its relevance to supporting national investigations into the crime of aggression related to the Russian Federation’s war against Ukraine.

Marharyta Shabanova, the wife of Dmytro Shabanov, addresses the OSCE PA in The Hague on 7 July 2026.Underscoring the human impact of international law, prior to the debate, Marharyta Shabanova – the wife of Dmytro Shabanov, one of three OSCE officials illegally held in Russian captivity for more than four years – described her husband’s incarceration as a violation of international humanitarian law. She issued a plea to the Assembly for assistance in securing the release of her husband and his two fellow detainees, Vadym Golda and Maksym Petrov.

Also in plenary session today, OSCE parliamentarians agreed to a supplementary item “International Justice, Humanitarian Law and Human Rights as the Foundations of Lasting Peace and Security in the OSCE Region,” principally sponsored by OSCE PA President Pere Joan Pons (Spain).

Introducing the resolution, President Pons noted that it reaffirms the commitments undertaken by OSCE participating States under the Helsinki Final Act, including the principles of sovereign equality, territorial integrity, respect for human rights and fundamental freedoms, and the right of all peoples to self-determination and democratic governance free from external interference or coercion.

The resolution further urges all OSCE participating States and parties to conflict to fully respect their obligations under international humanitarian law and international human rights law, including the principles of distinction, proportionality and precaution.

Following a lively debate, the resolution was adopted with broad support from the Assembly. It will be included in The Hague Declaration which will be issued on Wednesday.

The Annual Session is streaming on the OSCE PA’s YouTube and Facebook channels, and photos of the meeting can be found on Flickr. Please visit the Annual Session’s web page for more information.