At the Security Council meeting on the war in Ukraine, which was held on 24 October, Ivan Šimonović, Assistant Secretary-General for Human Rights, states that "the implementation of the 5 September ceasefire agreement remains fragile. Human rights violations and violations of international humanitarian law continue to be committed. There is a clear threat that we may be facing yet another protracted low-intensity conflict.

I also welcome the decree signed by President Poroshenko on 15 October 'On drafting of National Strategy in a Field of Human Rights' aimed to create mechanism for comprehensive insurance of human rights. The document obliges the Cabinet of Minister to ensure drafting of National Strategy in a field of human rights with participation of state authorities, local government bodies, civil society and international experts. OHCHR is working hand in hand with the broader UN system, the Council of Europe, the National Human Rights Institution and the Government to ensure a comprehensive approach to UN requirements as part of the EU accession process."

 

During personal meetings with members of permanent missions of many countries and at a specially organized side event during the session of the Security Council Ukrainian human rights activists described the general situation in Ukraine and told about numerous human rights violations in the occupied territories of Crimea and Donbas.

 

"In the occupied territories and territories under the control of terrorist groups, there are massive unpunished violations of human rights and international humanitarian law. Human rights defenders and human rights organizations are among the main objectives of persecution both with the use of legal mechanisms (unlawful detention, search and seizure of private property, initiation of fabricated administrative and criminal cases, etc.), and extralegal methods (beating, destruction of property, torture, sexual violence, enforced disappearances, extrajudicial executions, etc.).

The responsibility for these violations lies with the Russian Federation, the self-proclaimed government of Crimea and terrorist groups that exercise control over the territories of Donbass "- said in her report, Alexandra Matviychuk.

Participation of Ukrainian human rights activists in the above advocacy trip to the United Nations Security Council was facilitated by UNDP Ukraine and the International Network Human Rights Houses.

Note: The UN Security Council - is a permanent organ of the United Nations, which, according to Article 24 of the Charter, is responsible for the maintenance of international peace and security. The Security Council is one of the 6 principal organs of the UN system. The first Security Council meeting on the situation in Ukraine was held on 28 February 2014. The meeting was called for by the Permanent Representative of Ukraine. On 27 March, the General Assembly adopted a resolution on the Territorial Integrity of Ukraine - A/RES/68/262. On 8 October, OHCHR issued the sixth monthly report of the UN Human Rights Monitoring Mission in Ukraine, which covered the period from 18 August to 16 September 2014.