Many Delegates Express Concern Over Human Rights Violations, Strikes on Civilians
Detailing the death and destruction in the nearly two-year war in Ukraine, a senior UN official urged all parties to spare all civilians and civilian objects and facilitate the swift and unhindered provision of humanitarian relief during his briefing to the Security Council today, emphasizing that what Ukrainians need, above all, is an end to the devastating war.
Ramesh Rajasingham, Director of the Coordination Division, Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs, reported that at the latest count, more than 9,900 civilians have been killed since the start of the invasion. “People’s lives are dominated by the constant sound of air raid sirens, as unrelenting air strikes rain down and destroy civilian objects,” he said, adding that the daily routines of those near front lines now include picking their way around land contaminated by landmines. Voicing concern about the approaching winter, he noted: “Significant damage and destruction of critical infrastructure continues to severely impact access of the civilian population to electricity, heating, water and telecommunications.”
He further detailed the impact of the Russian Federation’s strikes on civilians, especially children, women and vulnerable groups, as well as on civilian infrastructure. He stressed that under international humanitarian law, parties must take constant care to spare all civilians and civilian objects, including homes, schools, hospitals and other essential infrastructure. Voicing concern about the staggering levels of hunger around the world, he urged the Council to do everything in its power to prevent any broader escalation of the situation in the Black Sea, which could have far-reaching global consequences on global food security.
Pointing to the plight of civilians in areas under temporary Russian military control and whom the UN is unable to reach at any adequate scale, he said all parties must allow and facilitate the rapid and unimpeded passage of humanitarian relief and ensure that personnel have the freedom of movement required for their work. “But what the people of Ukraine need more than anything else is for this devastating war — with its unceasing death, destruction and suffering — to be brought to an end,” he said.
In the ensuing discussion, many Council members lamented the devastating toll of the Russian Federation’s invasion on civilians and civilian infrastructure. While some called for a cessation of hostilities and dialogue and negotiations, others called directly on Moscow to end the war and withdraw its troops from Ukraine.
Malta’s representative said the Russian Federation has been violating the Charter of the United Nations since the beginning of its war of aggression, and with its shelling deliberately targeting civilian populations and civilian infrastructure, also inflicting untold suffering on Ukraine. “Last week’s Ukraine peace formula meeting, which was held in Malta, is a clear example of the international community’s desire to reach a comprehensive, just and lasting peace in Ukraine,” she said, adding that this can only be achieved if Moscow withdraws completely and unconditionally from the entire territory of Ukraine.
Ecuador’s representative pointed to the deleterious effect of Moscow’s invasion on agriculture and livelihoods in Ukraine, with billions lost to households, as well as the destruction of equipment, crops and agricultural land. He reiterated calls to the parties to abstain from using explosives in populated areas. Voicing concern about the human rights violations and abuses reflected in the report of the Independent International Commission of Inquiry on Ukraine, he stressed: “Such violence cannot be tolerated in any region of the world.”
Ghana’s representative, in a similar vein, expressed serious concern with reports of several allegations of sexual and gender-based violence committed against women and girls. Such violations must be treated and prosecuted like other war crimes, she said, adding: “There must be no impunity in Ukraine, and we value a holistic approach to accountability involving a deliberate focus on providing justice and support to victims.”
Several speakers, including the representatives of Gabon, China and Brazil, urged the parties to comply with their obligations under international humanitarian law. The latter called for the cessation of hostilities and, joining the delegates of Mozambique and the United Arab Emirates who called for direct negotiations, stressed that the resumption of dialogue between the parties is both essential and urgent to reverse the course of the war.
Echoing concerns about the fast-approaching winter and the almost 4 million people, living in areas under the Russian Federation’s current military control, who remain out of reach of humanitarian assistance, the Head of Delegation of the European Union said his bloc will intensify the provision of humanitarian and civil protection assistance to Ukraine, including equipment such as power generators, power transformers, mobile heating stations, and high-voltage and lighting equipment. Like other speakers who voiced concern about global food security, he expressed support for all efforts to facilitate exports of Ukraine’s grain and other agricultural products.
The representative of the Russian Federation said that the tragedy of the population of Ukraine is very multifaceted, dating back to the Western-inspired coup in 2014 and growing worse every day by the “Kyiv regime’s” desire at any price to serve Western geopolitical interests to weaken Moscow. Addressing the allegedly indiscriminate Russian attacks, he said: “Precision strikes target exclusively military objects or objects of infrastructure related to the military potential of the “Kyiv regime”. He called on Western States to “namely stop the criminal neo-Nazi Zelenskyy regime from sacrificing the Ukrainian people on the altar of unrealistic geopolitical plans of the United States to weaken Russia.”
Ukraine’s representative, countering that assertion, also pointed to the devastating impact of the Russian Federation’s attacks on civilians, civilian infrastructure and the environment. “It is crucial for Russia to understand that the international community is keenly aware of all its heinous crimes and atrocities, and they will not go unpunished.” Further noting that Russian propaganda continues to actively promote hatred and violence against Ukraine, he expressed gratitude for Malta’s organization of the third peace formula meeting on 28 October, emphasizing that ending the Russian Federation’s war of aggression will send “a powerful message that peace is achievable and international law wins”.
MAINTENANCE OF PEACE AND SECURITY OF UKRAINE
https://press.un.org/en/2023/sc15476.doc.htm
