34^thsession of the UN Human Rights Council

Agenda item 3

Clustered interactive dialogue with

Special Rapporteur on human rights and the environment

And Special Rapporteur on the right to food

Intervention by the Delegation of Ukraine

March 8, 2017

Mr. President,

We welcome conducting this dialogue with Special Rapporteur on human rights and the environment and Special Rapporteur on the right to food; may I turn to the report of Mr. John Knox.

We thank Special Rapporteur for the presentation of his report, which touches upon several important dimensions of human rights and environment. In our view, there is one more aspect that deserves his attention - the environmental consequences of armed conflicts.

The damages of industrial objects, flood of mines coursed by bombing, illegal exploitation and trade of natural resources, mining of territories -lead to numerous environmental problems such as increase in forest fires, pollution of ground and surface water, destruction of nature reserves, migration of animals, ect.

Unfortunately, many countries are facing serious environmental issues as a result of armed conflicts, including my own country - Ukraine, which continues to suffer from the Russian military aggression in Donbas region.

While sharing in principle the conclusions of the report of Mr. John Knox, we deem it important to acknowledge the impact of environmental consequences of armed conflicts on the full enjoyment of human rights.

Thank you.