47th session of the Human Rights Council

Item 3

Interactive dialogue with Special Rapporteur on the right to the

enjoyment of the highest attainable standard of physical and mental

health

(Geneva, June 24, 2021)

Madam President,

Ukraine welcomes the first report by the newly appointed mandate holder Ms. Tlaleng Mofokeng and takes note of the themes chosen as priorities for her activities as the Special Rapporteur.

We uphold the SR’s determination to pay a special attention to groups in vulnerable situations while implementing her mandate.

In this regard, we would like to specifically draw the Special Rapporteur’s attention to the challenges faced on a daily basis by Ukrainian children, who live in proximity of the areas affected by the conflict unleashed by the Russian Federation in Donbas.

Thousands of them suffer from symptoms consistent with the post-traumatic stress disorder. We highly appreciate the continued practical assistance by UNICEF in providing training for psychologists who work with children to address this problem.

At the same time, we are confident that more attention should be paid to this issue.

Yet another problem we would like to highlight is the lack of access to the substitution therapy in the temporarily occupied territories of Ukraine in Donbas and Crimea.

Because the Russian legislation, unlawfully imposed by the occupying authorities, prohibits the substitution therapy, people who use drugs in the occupied territories in the absence of a proper medical supervision have no other choice but to return to taking drugs again or they will simply die.

We hope that Madam Special Rapporteur will pay due attention to the issues outlined by our delegation.

Thank you.