(*95*) United Nations’ Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights has published an alarming report Wednesday in regards to the human rights scenario in Ukraine in the context of the continuing Russian invasion.
(*95*) UN documented 10,000 civilian casualties because the battle started on Feb. 24, “among them, 4,731 people were killed,” Matilda Bogner, head of Human Rights Monitoring Mission in Ukraine, instructed journalists in Kyiv as she offered the report’s findings.
She warned the casualty numbers are “considerably higher” because the report solely highlights the figures the mission was in a position to independently confirm.
“The armed attack by the Russian Federation against Ukraine has had a devastating impact on the human rights across the country. We documented violations of international human rights law and international humanitarian law, including war crimes. These violations highlight the heavy toll the conflict is having day in and day out,” Bogner stated.
(*95*) report is predicated on info gathered throughout 11 subject visits, three visits to locations of detention and 517 interviews with victims and witnesses between Feb. 24 and May 15, 2022. (*95*) proof additionally attracts from court docket paperwork, official data and open sources.
(*95*) report paperwork violations of worldwide human rights and humanitarian legislation “to varying degrees, by both parties,” in response to Bogner.
“The high number of civilian casualties and the extent of destruction and damaged caused to civilian infrastructure raised significant concerns that attacks conducted by Russian Armed Forces did not comply with international humanitarian law. While on a much lower scale, it also appears that Ukrainian armed forces did not comply with international humanitarian law in Eastern parts of the country,” Bogner added.
The report also raised “serious concerns” in regards to the allegations of torture of prisoners of conflict by either side on the battle, together with testimonies of 44 prisoners of conflict interviewed by the UN mission.
Bogner stressed the mission encountered evidence of widespread use of extrajudicial punishment against those alleged to be looters, thieves and curfew violators in Ukraine.
“OHCHR has documented and verified allegations of unlawful killings, including summary executions of civilians in more than 30 settlements in Kyiv, Chernihiv, Kharkiv and Sumy regions, committed while these territories were under the control of Russian armed forces. In Bucha alone (Kyiv region), OHCHR documented the unlawful killings, including summary executions, of at least 50 civilians,” the report outlined, adding the full scale of the problem “is but to be totally assessed.”
(*95*) UN doc additionally outlined “concern about the arbitrary detention and enforced disappearance” of representatives of native authorities, journalists, civil society activists and different civilians by Russian troops and affiliated armed teams.
OHCHR documented 248 instances of arbitrary detention, with six of these ensuing in deaths.
(*95*) OHCHR report contains “reasonable grounds to believe” that each Russian and Ukrainian armed forces have been utilizing weapons outfitted with cluster munitions, together with Tochka-U missiles that resulted in civilian casualties. (*95*) use of such weapons in populated areas contradicts worldwide legislation.
Concluding the report, OHCHR beneficial all events of the battle “respect and ensure respect at all times and in all circumstances” for worldwide human proper and humanitarian legal guidelines. (*95*) report additionally urged Russia “to immediately cease the armed attack” and adjust to its obligations below worldwide legislation.
(*95*) Human Rights Monitoring Mission in Ukraine maintains its presence in Donetsk, Dnipro, Odesa and Uzhhorod.
