Ukraine Elected to the UN Human Rights Council for the 2027–2029 Term
On October 13, 2026, Ukraine was elected for the fifth time to the UN Human Rights Council for the term from January 1, 2027, to December 31, 2029.
Ukraine is grateful to the UN member states for their support and trust. Membership on the Council will provide additional opportunities to strengthen international efforts to protect human rights, combat impunity for the most serious international crimes, and reinforce international accountability mechanisms.
One of Ukraine’s key priorities will remain ensuring accountability for war crimes and crimes against humanity, particularly in the context of the Russian Federation’s armed aggression against Ukraine. Ukraine will advocate for strengthening independent international mechanisms for documenting and investigating violations, deepening cooperation with UN special procedures and international courts and tribunals, and ending impunity for systematic human rights violations in the temporarily occupied territories of Ukraine.
An important area of focus will be the protection of the rights of the civilian population and the most vulnerable groups, including children, women, people with disabilities, the elderly, and victims of conflict-related sexual violence. Ukraine will focus on countering the unlawful deportation and forced displacement of Ukrainian children and civilians, as well as ensuring access to education, medical care, psychosocial support, and other essential services, especially in situations of armed conflict and humanitarian crises.
Ukraine will also contribute to strengthening international efforts to protect civilians and ensure compliance with international humanitarian law, and will draw attention to the impact of environmental threats, climate change, and food insecurity on human rights. Special attention will be given to challenges related to disinformation, cyber threats, and other modern means of warfare that may pose a threat to human rights and fundamental freedoms.
Ukraine is committed to constructive cooperation with UN member states, regional organizations, civil society, and international human rights institutions. Drawing on its own experience in protecting human rights amid full-scale armed aggression, Ukraine is ready to share best practices, develop international initiatives, and contribute to strengthening the global human rights protection system.
Ukraine will strive to ensure that the work of the UN Human Rights Council contributes to achieving tangible results in protecting victims, preventing violations, and ensuring accountability for them, thereby strengthening the international community’s shared commitment to human rights and international law.