42thsession of the UN Human Rights Council
Agenda item 9
General Debate
Intervention by the Delegation of Ukraine
(24 September 2019)
Mr President,
Ukraine remains committed to taking continuous action against racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia and related forms of intolerance to respond to one of today’s gravest challenges.
This year marks 50 years since the ICERD came into force. However, despite almost universal ratification, racial discrimination and other forms of intolerances persist as some states-parties fail to adhere to their international obligations under the Convention.
In this way, the Russian occupation authorities continue to violate human rights of Crimean Tatars in the temporarily occupied Crimea. According to the OHCHR in 2019 the number of raids carried out by Russian Federation law enforcement against Crimean Tatars almost doubled compared to the same period last year.
In the same manner, the cases of politically motivated criminal and administrative prosecution against Crimean Tatars increased almost twofold, putting another 30 political prisoners behind bars in Crimea this year. Accused of terrorism, most of the imprisoned are civic activists – journalists and human rights advocates, which is an exact reason why they are being persecuted by the Russian authorities.
More than two years ago, the ICJ demanded the Russian occupation authorities to lift the ban on the activities of the Mejlis of the Crimean Tatar People. Instead of implementing the binding decision of the Court, the Russian Federation continues its assault on the human rights of the Crimean Tatars in the form of intimidation, mass searches, arrests, abductions and murders.
Mr President,
We must never forget that it is our joint obligation to eliminate racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia and related intolerance. Therefore, we call on the international community to urge Russia to abide by its obligations under international law, including ICERD.
I thank you.