See the Special Session. LRWC / IBAHRI statement at 23:51
See the resolution adopted at the Special Session
Organization: Lawyers’ Rights Watch Canada
Item: 34th special session of the Human Rights Council on the deteriorating human rights situation in Ukraine stemming from the Russian aggression
Date: 12 May 2022
Speaker: Catherine Morris
Oral Statement to the 34th Special Session of the UN Human Rights Council from Lawyers’ Rights Watch Canada and the International Bar Association Human Rights Institute, NGOs in special consultative status
Thank you Chair,
Lawyers Rights Watch Canada and the International Bar Association Human Rights Institute condemn the deterioration of the humanitarian and human rights situation in Ukraine, including reports of indiscriminate killings of civilians; of mass graves, deportation of civilians; systematic and widespread use of torture and rape; and destruction of civilian infrastructures. We deplore the atrocities documented in Bucha and the current humanitarian crisis in Mariupol.
This Council needs to send a strong and coordinated message. The deterioration of the situation requires continued and systematic attention by this Council as a necessary step towards accountability for violations of international humanitarian and human rights law, war crimes, and crimes against humanity. Human rights defenders and journalists documenting atrocity crimes are in need of protection.
In this, we welcome the swift establishment of the Commission of Inquiry and hope it will be adequately resourced and supported to carry out independent, thorough, and effective investigations. We call on the High Commissioner to present an oral update on the grave human rights and humanitarian situation in Ukraine, including Mariupol, at the 50th session of the Human Rights Council, under Item 2.
Thank you.
