30th session of the UN Human Rights Council
Agenda item 2
General debates
Intervention by Permanent Representative of Ukraine
Ambassador Yurii Klymenko
(September 14, 2015)
Mr. President,
We thank the High Commissioner for the update on the work of his Office, including in my country.
We highly commend the activities of the OHCHR and its Monitoring Mission in Ukraine. They contribute to the objective informing of the world community about the human rights situation in the circumstances caused by the Russian aggression against Ukraine. The achievements of the Mission, which operates in my country on the Government’s invitation since March 2014, propelled Ukraine to apply for further extending its mandate until March 2016.
The most recent OHCHR report, which will be the basis for discussion during item 10 Interactive dialogue on 29 September, clearly reflects the impact on human rights in the region of external factors such as supplies from the Russian Federation of military forces, weapons and ammunition on Donbass.
A number of recommendations in the report aimed at improving human rights situation will be carefully studied in Ukraine.
We are grateful to the OHCHR for providing technical assistance to the Government, including in elaboration of the recently approved National Human Rights Strategy, and hope that such assistance will continue in our work on corresponding Action Plan.
The Strategy defines the protection of human rights and fundamental freedoms as a top priority and a main task in the context of national security and domestic reforms.
Completely in line with this approach, last week Ukraine handed over to the International Criminal Court the Declaration accepting the jurisdiction of the Court over crimes against humanity and war crimes committed in the territory of Ukraine since the beginning of the Russian military aggression against our country. Along with the previous Declaration covering Maidan period this constitute a significant contribution of Ukraine in international efforts to end impunity for the perpetrators of most serious crimes.
I thank you.