The UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, Navi Pillay, on Wednesday called on all parties in Ukraine to exercise maximum restraint after 22 people were killed during violent clashes in Kiev between riot police and protesters on Tuesday.

The Secretary-General is shocked and gravely concerned about the escalation of violence in the Ukrainian capital, Kiev, which has resulted in further fatalities and injuries. He reiterates to all sides that the use of violence is unacceptable.

6 February 2014, Kyiv – Results of civic expert assessment of draft laws, which were submitted to Verkhovna Rada of the seventh convocation show that almost one third of the analyzed draft regulations are marred with corruption risks. The State budget for 2014 has received special attention.

UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Navi Pillay on Tuesday stressed the urgent need for constructive dialogue in Ukraine to avoid further escalation of the unrest in the country, particularly in the wake of sweeping new legislation that falls short of international human rights standards.

The Secretary-General continues to follow developments in Ukraine closely and with concern. He reiterates his appeal to all concerned to act with restraint, avoid any further escalation and violence and to uphold the democratic principles of freedom of expression and peaceful assembly.

On 25 June 1993, representatives of 171 States adopted by consensus the Vienna Declaration and Programme of Action (VDPA) of the World Conference on Human Rights, thus successfully closing the two-week World Conference and presenting to the international community a common plan for the strengthening of human rights work around the world.