25th Session of the Human Rights Council
Item 2 – High Commissioner’s Annual Report
Intervention by the Permanent Representative of Ukraine
Ambassador Yurii Klymenko
(Geneva, March 6, 2014)
Mr. President,
Madame High Commissioner,
Distinguished delegates,
Peaceful protests in Ukraine, caused by brutal use of force by the previous authorities and finally erupted into violent clashes and unjustified use of firearms by the police resulted in more than thousand injured and 100 dead.
Intensive negotiations with support of our international partners have yielded results on February 21 when the Agreement on the Settlement of Crisis was signed stopping bloodshed on the streets of Kyiv and charting a political trajectory out of the deadly stalemate.
On February 27 the new coalition was established in the Parliament and the new fully legitimate Government of Ukraine appointed.
Human rights reside in the core of its programme, aimed at consolidation of stability, promotion of justice, guarantying true supremacy of the rule of law and ensuring prosperity for the Ukrainian people.
Accountability for the flagrant crimes committed during the protests and bringing all perpetrators to justice is the utmost priority of the new government.
Thorough investigations of crimes and human rights violations have been immediately initiated and are well under way.
Reinvigorated policies of implementation of human rights commitments of Ukraine will be carried out in close collaboration with the OHCHR, Council of Europe and other relevant organizations.
Ukraine is interested in technical assistance, best practices and accumulated knowledge and invites relevant UN system mechanisms and regional organizations to deepen cooperation.
To conclude, Mr. President, I wish to commend the High Commissioner and her dedicated Office for their important work and to reaffirm Ukraine’s readiness to fully cooperate with the OHCHR and the relevant mechanisms of the Human Rights Council. It is in this regard we look forward to welcoming in Ukraine Mr. I.Simonovic, Assistant Secretary General for human rights, who is now on his way to my country.
I thank you.