Mr. Vice President,

We thank the Special Rapporteur for her comprehensive report.

We share view that health and human rights are closely interconnected and violence, coercion, discrimination, exclusion are key drivers of poor health outcomes.

Russia’s full-scale invasion in 2022, and ongoing temporary occupation by aggressor state of part of the territory of Ukraine since 2014, demonstrate this reality. Russia’s war has created one of the most severe health and mental health crises in modern Europe, causing lasting harm to physical and mental well-being of millions of Ukrainians and undermining access to essential healthcare.

Despite ongoing war Ukraine has made significant progress: over 130,000 professionals trained, 137 Mental Health Centers and 326 Resilience Centers established, regional coordinators and community consultants created. Initiative led by First Lady of Ukraine played important role in raising awareness and supporting community-based interventions, reaching hundreds of thousands of people who previously lacked access to mental health support.

At same time we remain concerned about people in temporarily occupied territory and forcibly transferred to Russian Federation facing serious barriers to healthcare and essential medicines, particularly persons with chronic conditions.

We call for humanitarian access and urge sustained attention to impact of armed conflict on right to health.

Mme Special Rapporteur,

What concrete mechanisms do you consider most effective to ensure accountability for systematic violations that undermine the right to health in conflict settings?