32^nd session of the UN Human Rights Council

Agenda item 2

General debates

 

Intervention by Permanent Representative of Ukraine                                 

Ambassador Yurii Klymenko

 

(June 14, 2016)

 

Mr. President,

We are grateful to the High Commissioner for the update on the work of his Office, including in my country.

The dedication and experience of the Office’s staff across the globe brings encouragement and facilitates increased efforts in achieving internationally recognized human rights standards by the countries willing to cooperate even in difficult and complex circumstances.

We highly commend the activities of the OHCHR and its Monitoring Mission in Ukraine. For more than two years already they contribute to the impartial informing of the world community about the human rights situation, the root cause of which is the Russian aggression against Ukraine.

The most recent OHCHR report, which will be the basis for discussion during Interactive dialogue on 29 June, clearly reflects the impact on human rights in the region of external factors such as the influx on Donbass from the Russian Federation of foreign fighters, ammunition and heavy weaponry.

We consider the Mission’s work an important integral part in confronting Russian aggression and effective tool of documenting human rights violations by occupation authorities in Crimea and crimes committed by the Russian military and illegal armed groups in parts of Donetsk and Lugansk regions.

Ukraine's position remains unchanged – all human rights violations regardless of who committed them and where – must not go unpunished. We are thoroughly scrutinizing the problems highlighted by the Mission in order to resolve them in full compliance with the human rights standards.

We are grateful to the OHCHR for providing technical assistance to the Government, including in implementation of the National Human Rights Strategy and corresponding Action Plan, and hope for continued support of the Office in addressing key concerns and achieving sustainable results in the field of human rights.

I thank you.