HRC ID Ukraine Deputy HC 08JAN2025 14h59min
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11:03
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SPEAKER 1: Ms. Nada Al-Nashif, United Nations Deputy High Commissioner for Human Rights (See PDF statement attached)
SPEAKER 2: Ms. Yevheniia Filipenko, Permanent Representative of Ukraine to the UN Office and other International Organizations in Geneva
SPEAKER 3: Mr. Evgeny USTINOV, First Counsellor, Permanent Mission of the Russian Federation to the United Nations Office and other international organizations in Geneva
Human Rights Council interactive dialogue on the oral update by the High Commissioner on the findings of the OHCHR report on the situation of human rights in Ukraine
Geneva, 8 January 2025, 15:00CET
Venue: Palais des Nations, Room XX, Geneva
Background information
In resolution 53/30 (14 July 2023), the Human Rights Council requested the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights to continue to present an oral update on the findings of each of the reports of the Office of the High Commissioner on the situation of human rights in Ukraine to the Human Rights Council at each of its sessions, until its fifty-ninth session, and before the end of 2023 and 2024, each to be followed by an interactive dialogue.
Teleprompter
Excellence
Excellency's colleagues,
I call to order the meeting of the interactive dialogue and the oral update by the
High Commissioner on Ukraine.
In its resolution at 5330,
the Human Rights Council
requested the High Commission of Human Rights to
Continue to present an oral update on the findings of the reports
of the Office of the High
Commissioner on the situation of human rights in
Ukraine.
The updates were mandated for each council session until the fifty-ninth
session and also before the end of 2023 and 24.
The oral updates are to be followed by interactive dialogues.
Following a letter from the
High Commissioner for Human Rights dated 2nd December,
the council rescheduled the interactive dialogue.
Originally planned for the 13th of December 2024 to today,
the 8th of January 2025.
Therefore,
I have the pleasure to welcome
Ms.
Nada Al Nashef,
Deputy High Commissioner for Human Rights,
who will present the
oral update on behalf of the High Commissioner.
Madam,
thank you for being here.
You have the floor.
Thanks.
Thank you.
Gentlemen,
distinguished delegates,
by wishing you all.
A happy new year.
I hope a kinder and more peaceful 2025 for all.
Your Excellencies,
as we approach three years since the
Russian Federation's full-scale invasion of Ukraine,
progress towards a peaceful resolution remains elusive as
we witness a dangerous escalation of hostilities.
September,
in fact,
marked the highest number of civilian casualties since July 2022.
This is confirmed in the latest report by the office that we issued
for the period from 1 September to 13 November of last year,
which documents continued and increasing
gross violations of international human
rights law and serious violations of international humanitarian law,
including possible war crimes.
During the period covered by the report,
Russian armed forces intensified their operations
to capture further territory in eastern Ukraine with a severe impact on civilians.
In frontline areas,
particularly in the Donetsk,
Kerson,
and Zaporica regions,
relentless attacks with aerial glide bombs,
long range missiles,
and drones contributed to the killing of some 574 civilians,
an increase of 30%
over the previous year.
Russian bombardment damaged civilian infrastructure and
water heating and transportation services,
including 4 major attacks on Ukraine's energy infrastructure since mid November.
During this period,
the Russian authorities also reported civilian casualties in
Kursk and other regions of the Russian Federation,
resulting from
attacks
by
Ukrainian military.
Since February 2022,
this conflict has killed more than 12,300 civilians,
including over 650 children,
injuring more than 27,800.
Over 700 medical facilities and 1500 schools and
colleges have also been damaged or destroyed.
Mr.
President,
Your Excellencies,
we are deeply concerned
by the impact on civilians of the increased use of drones
and the use of new weapons during this reporting period.
Russian armed forces launched some 2000 long range drones in November alone,
killing scores of people.
They also increase the use of aerial bombs with glide modifications
that allow them to travel much further
in densely populated areas including Kharkiv,
Sumi,
and Japoria.
So-called first person view drones killed some 35 civilians and
seriously injured dozens in the Ukraine-controlled part of Khrzon,
despite cameras that should allow operators
to distinguish between civilians and combatants.
We are also concerned about the potential
increased use of anti-personnel landmines due to
the threats they pose to civilians both now and long into the future.
I am deeply concerned by a significant increase in credible allegations
of executions of Ukrainian military personnel captured by Russian armed forces.
Summary executions constitute a war crime.
The office has recorded 62 such executions
in 19 separate incidents during the reporting period,
and we have verified 5 of these incidents.
Overall,
since the start of the full-scale armed conflict,
has verified the execution of 68 Ukrainian
service personnel captured by Russian armed forces.
The office also verified the killing by first-person view
drones of one Ukrainian and 3 Russian military personnel
who were severely wounded on the battlefield.
Also verified is the summary execution of 170 civilians
since February
24th of 2022
in areas controlled by Russian armed forces,
including in places of detention.
Accountability for all of these killings is essential.
And instead there is almost total impunity.
continues to document torture of prisoners of war at
the hands of both Russian and Ukrainian armed forces,
a violation of international law.
Ukrainian prisoners of war,
both men and women,
described widespread and systematic torture and ill treatment,
including severe beatings,
electric shocks,
strangulation,
and prolonged solitary confinement.
Most reported being subjected to sexual violence,
including rape and forced nudity.
Russian prisoners of war held by Ukraine told our
staff they had been subjected to torture and ill treatment
from severe beatings to sexual violence and dog attacks,
mostly in places of transit
before reaching official places of internment.
Our office has documented the death of one Russian prisoner of war
and has raised these allegations with the prosecutor general of Ukraine.
Information gathered by the office also indicates
that Russia continues to implement its own
legal and governance measures in the areas of Ukraine
that it occupies in violation of international humanitarian law.
Since February of 2022,
the office has documented the deaths of 29 civilian detainees
who were held in Russian occupied territory of Ukraine or
transferred into
the Russian Federation.
The Ukrainian journalist Victoria Roshina
reportedly died in Russian custody during this reporting period,
and the office has also verified reports of two more deaths in Russian detention.
The Russian authorities prosecuted people for expressing their opinions,
particularly those critical of the Russian armed forces.
One Ukrainian woman was convicted for posting a photo
of blue and yellow sweets on social media.
The prosecution of members of certain religious communities in
relation to their exercise of religion has also continued.
At least 4 Jehovah's Witnesses were indicted on criminal
charges while a Muslim organisation was deregistered and fined.
Russian property laws in the occupied territory of Ukraine
create procedures for expropriating
the homes of people who have fled in violation of international humanitarian law.
These laws effectively compel homeowners to obtain Russian passports
in order that they can maintain their property rights.
The Russian authorities have also intensified efforts to compel children to
demonstrate loyalty to the Russian state
and continue to incorporate military training
and nationalistic Russian perspectives into
education and recreational activities.
In Ukraine,
legal amendments prohibit activities of the Russian Orthodox Church and of
Ukrainian religious organisations affiliated with
counterparts in the Russian Federation,
also raising concerns as to freedom of religion and belief.
Your Excellencies,
the war in Ukraine cannot be seen in isolation.
Beyond the vast and continued suffering in Ukraine itself,
it is inextricably linked with events well beyond the immediate battlefield,
with a debilitating impact on the exercise of human rights around the world.
It has
indeed undermined global norms and standards,
and it is eroding respect for international law.
Through our human rights monitoring mission in Ukraine,
OHCHR is playing an essential part in resisting
the strong pushback against human rights on the ground
and standing up for the fundamental rights of ordinary people.
Recording the facts is one of the most important ways
in which the international community
can counter disinformation and ensure accountability
for the purposes of prevention and in time justice.
I welcome the access and cooperation provided by Ukraine,
and I regret that the Russian Federation has not so far granted us such access.
In the face of continued grave breaches of international
humanitarian law and serious violations of human rights,
I call on the Russian authorities to halt
the summary executions of Ukrainian prisoners of war,
to condemn such acts,
and to prosecute those responsible.
I urge those in authority on both sides to
take immediate steps to end the use of torture
against prisoners of war
and to prosecute those responsible.
I urge the Russian Federation also
to meet its obligations under international humanitarian
and human rights law in the territory of Ukraine that it occupies,
and I urge the entire international community to act to ensure respect
for all their obligations under international human rights and humanitarian law.
Ukrainians,
like people everywhere,
have a right to peace.
It is time
and beyond time for this war to end.
I call on the parties to the conflict
and all those with influence on them
to step up efforts to create a path to peace
in line with.
GA resolutions anchored in human rights,
respect for the United Nations Charter
and international law.
Thank you very much.
M.