Tag: invasion

Human Rights in Ukraine

Published on by BPP Human Rights UnitLeave a comment

Mihaela Arabadji reviews how Russia’s invasion has impacted human rights in Ukraine and how various countries have responded.

‘We will win the war and then we will go to the sea in Crimea,’ this is what a pupil from Ukraine wrote in his essay about his plans for spring.1 This child, like many others in Ukraine, want the war to end as the rights of children and all citizens of Ukraine are violated. Let us remember the massacres in the Ukrainian city, Bucha, where the Russian army tortured civilians, shot on the streets, and threw them into wells. Women, men, and children were killed and the Russian army tried to burn their corpses. The president of Ukraine asked the United Nations to hold Russia accountable by investigating the massacres committed by Russia in Ukraine, creating an international tribunal for the defence rights and the conviction of the guilty, like the Nüremberg trials.2 

On January 30th 2023, the Office of the High Commissioner U.N. published that a total of 7,110 civilians were killed, 438 of these fatalities were children, and 11,547 were injured, 842 of these were children.3 The Russia’s ongoing aggression against Ukraine, is a deliberate contravention of the United Nations Charter by the massive human rights violations, crimes against humanity and war crimes. A recent report from the Office of Commissioner for Human Rights indicates that innocent people are being killed and their homes and lives are destroyed.4 Many speakers, during a UN discussion on the Ukrainian situation said that Russia has violated international human rights law and international humanitarian law. Even if the latest violations were condemned, quite a few speakers expressed the importance of the strongest condemnations from all United Nations Members: Estonia on behalf of European Union and Denmark on behalf Norway, Republic of Korea, Slovenia, Switzerland, Germany, Ireland, France, North Macedonia, Australia, Luxembourg, Lithuania, Venezuela, Russia, Netherlands, Syria, Czech Republic, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Iceland, Estonia, United States, United Kingdom, Belarus, Italy, Montenegro, Denmark, Republic of Moldova, Slovakia, Belgium, Poland, Bulgaria, Portugal, Sweden, Georgia, Malawi, Albania, Latvia, Türkiye, Austria, China, Romania, Japan, Finland and Liechtenstein. They emphasised that ‘all the perpetrators must be held accountable.’5  

The U.N. rights chief, Volker Tuerk, declared on December 15, 2022, the actual numbers of injured and deceased are likely to grow higher as U.N. monitors still registers crimes against civilians. This has a horrendous impact on children as an estimated of 1.5 million are at risk of anxiety, post-traumatic stress disorder and other mental conditions.6  

Additionally, the commission documented evidence of summary executions, rape, unlawful confinement, torture, ill-treatment, and other sexual violence. Although, Moscow denied deliberately targeting the civilians, the Commission found that war crimes, violations of human rights and international humanitarian law have been committed in Ukraine. 7 

The day of February 24, 2022, when the Russian leadership started a war against Ukraine, will not be forgotten by both Ukrainians and the entire world, who hoped that such a day would never come. Since August 24, 1991, when Ukraine won its independence, it has always oscillated between the West and Russia, with which it had intense and long economic connections. The ongoing crisis has deeper roots, arising from the troubled history of this state, which failed to find its own way and quickly became a “pawn” in the ongoing dispute between Russia and the West, “dependency” being the key word of the dispute.8 

What are Russia’s interests?

The biggest Russia’s disapproval was the entry into NATO not only of the former allies (Poland and Romania) but also of the 3 Baltic Republics, former members of the Soviet Union (Latvia, Lithuania, and Estonia). The last straw for Russia was the European Union’s attempt to draw Ukraine closer to the West; this triggered a chain of events which led to the annexation of Crimea.9 

Ukraine has an important geostrategic interest for Russia. Accordingly, Russia is doing everything it can to keep Ukraine as a ‘buffer state’ between Russian territory and NATO by re-placing it in Moscow’s circle of dominance to prevent Ukraine from joining NATO or growing relations with EU. In addition, Russia is trying to build the Eurasian Union – as a rival to the EU, NATO, and the USA, which without Ukraine are no longer interested.10 

EU interests 

The EU and its Member States are united in their firm support for Ukraine and strongly condemn Russia’s unprovoked and unjustified military aggression. EU leaders have repeatedly asked Russia to immediately stop its military actions, unconditionally withdraw all military forces and equipment, and fully respect Ukraine’s territorial integrity, sovereignty, and independence.11 In response to the military aggression, the EU has shown unity and strength and provided Ukraine with humanitarian, political, financial, and military support. 

Great Britain has provided significant military aid to Ukraine since the beginning of the Russian invasion. ‘Britain has the necessary resistance to be with Ukraine ‘until victory’’, promised foreign minister, James Cleverly, in his speech before the annual conference of the Conservative Party.12 The head of British diplomacy declared: ‘We believe in freedom, in the rule of law. We believe that an aggressor cannot invade his neighbour with impunity. […] For this reason, we stand with the brave Ukrainians who defend their homeland.’13  

The United Kingdom government acted quickly to help protect the most vulnerable people, children, women, the elderly, and people with disabilities in Ukraine and in the regions around Ukraine. The UK provided £220 million for humanitarian assistance, including setting up 4 health facilities which provide medical supplies and aid; providing clean water and food; partnering with UNICEF to cater Water, Sanitation and Hygiene services and education to children and families; contributing towards UNFPA programmes for people affected by  gender-based violence and for sexual health provision; funding frontline medical assistance to provide specialist training,  while establishing mobile health clinics to help the people in need.14  

The EU’s help has also been crucial. It provides child support, humanitarian aid, helps refugees through temporary protection mechanisms like the UK and macro-financial assistance to foster stability.15 Following from the EU-Ukraine Summit, EU is providing nearly 50 billion euros for humanitarian, emergency, budgetary and military support.16 At the summit, Ursula von der Leyen introduced the modern childcare strategy where children, without parental care due to the war, can grow up in a loving environment that makes them confident and strong. This includes capacity building and a twinning project to provide the best possible care for orphans.17 

Who is still ‘pro’ war? 

At the same time, some countries refused to condemn Russia’s military actions that have already cost the lives of hundreds of civilians, deciding not to quit their historical or commercial ties with Russia. 141 countries voted for the UN Security Council Resolution condemning the invasion, with only 5 against. China decided to abstain from voting on the resolution and has since offered to negotiate peace between the nations in conflict. Belarus supports the invasion of Russia, which promised supporting Putin, claiming that West is the one who provoked him. Many geopolitical analysts consider that Alexander Lukashenko and Belarus are just puppets of the Kremlin regime.18 The president of Syria, Bashar al-Assad, praised Putin for his deadly invasion, blaming, at the same time, the Western ‘hysteria.’ Likewise, the leaders of Venezuela and Cuba offered strong support to Putin, accusing the US and the West.19 

In conclusion the path chosen by Moscow, of aggressing Ukraine and the entire Western world, will eventually end in catastrophe. Later, Russia may have a chance for a new beginning. But for the moment, the Ukrainian people are to be congratulated for the courage they show in defending their country. As Roman Goncharenko stated, ‘Ukraine has the right to choose its own destiny’.20 

References

  1. Anatol Cibotari,’’We will win the war and then we will go to sea in the Crimea.’ A pupil from Ukraine wrote an essay about his plans for spring’ (Replica, 16 March 2022) <https://replicamedia.md/ro/article/N0XQ8zPK2/vom-castiga-razboiul-si-dupa-vom-pleca-la-mare-in-crimeea-un-elev-din-ucraina-a-scris-o-compunere-despre-planurile-sale-pentru-primavara.html&gt; accessed 10 December 2022
  2. Ibid.
  3. Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights, ‘Ukraine: civilian casualty update 30 January 2023’ (United Nations Human Rights, 30 January 2023) <https://www.ohchr.org/en/news/2023/01/ukraine-civilian-casualty-update-30-january-2023#_ftn1 > accessed 1 February 2023
  4. Ibid.
  5. Human Rights Council, ‘Human Rights Council Discusses the Situation of Human Rights in Ukraine and in the Democratic Republic of Congo under its Technical Assistance and Capacity Building Agenda Item’ (United Nations Human Rights, 4 October 2022) < https://www.ohchr.org/en/press-releases/2022/10/human-rights-council-discusses-situation-human-rights-ukraine-and-democratic&gt; accessed 27 November 2022
  6. Lisa Schlein, ‘UN: Gross Human Rights Violations Mark Ukraine War’ (VOA, 15 December 2022) < https://www.voanews.com/amp/gross-human-rights-violations-mark-ukraine-war/6877702.html&gt; accessed 17 December 2022
  7. RFE/RL,’UN Says Russia Responsible for ‘Vast Majority’ Of Human Rights Violations Documented in Four Regions of Ukraine’ (RadioFreeEurope RadioLiberty, 18 October 2022) < https://www.rferl.org/amp/ukraine-un-report-war-crimes-russia/32090144.html&gt; accessed 27 November 2022
  8. Ibid.
  9. Arthur Elisei, ‘Russia-Ukraine Conflict’ < https://www.academia.edu/7683899/CONFLICTUL_RUSIA_UCRAINA > accessed 15 December 2022
  10. Ibid.
  11. European Council, ‘EU response to Russia’s invasion of Ukraine’ (16 December 2022) < https://www.consilium.europa.eu/en/policies/eu-response-ukraine-invasion/ > accessed 18 December 2022
  12. AGERPRES, ’Great Britain promises to stand by Ukraine ‘until victory’’ (Economica, 4 October 2022) < https://www.economica.net/marea-britanie-promite-sa-fie-alaturi-de-ucraina-pana-la-victorie_616461.html&gt; accessed on 10 December 2022
  13. Ibid.
  14. GOV.UK, ‘UK government’s humanitarian response to Russia’s invasion of Ukraine’ (GOV.UK, 14 December 2022) < https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/uk-governments-humanitarian-response-to-russias-invasion-of-ukraine-facts-and-figures/uk-governments-humanitarian-response-to-russias-invasion-of-ukraine-facts-and-figures > accessed 3 February 2023
  15. European Council, ’EU response to Russia’s invasion of Ukraine’ (European Council, 3 February 2023)< https://www.consilium.europa.eu/en/policies/eu-response-ukraine-invasion/#support > accessed on 3 February 2023
  16. President of Ukraine | Volodymyr Zelensky, ‘Joint statement following the 24th EU-Ukraine Summit’ (3 February 2023) < https://www.president.gov.ua/en/news/spilna-zayava-za-pidsumkami-24-go-samitu-ukrayina-yes-80765 > accessed on 4 February 2023
  17. European Commission, ‘Statement by President von der Leyen at the joint press conference with Ukrainian President Zelenskyy’ (2 February 2023) <https://ec.europa.eu/commission/presscorner/detail/en/STATEMENT_23_546 > accessed on 4 February 2023
  18. Stefan Dragomir, ‘Which countries support Russia in the war in Ukraine?’ (Click!, 3 March 2022) < https://click.ro/actualitate/international/new-content-412312.html&gt; accessed 1 December 2022
  19. Ibid.
  20. Roman Goncharenko,’Comment: Ukraine will Survive, but the West should be ashamed!’ (DW, 24 February 2022) < https://www.dw.com/ro/comentariu-ucraina-va-supravieţui-dar-vestul-ar-trebui-să-se-ruşineze/a-60906533&gt; accessed 1 December 2022

Photo Credit: Ukrainian Presidential Press Office via AP.

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