A special session of the UN Human Rights Council met on Thursday in Geneva, prompted by increasing concern over atrocities against civilians, linked to Russia’s invasion of Ukraine on 24 February.
Speakers:
+ Vote of the Resolution:
The United Nations Human Rights Council agreed by a majority vote on Thursday 12 May to launch an inquiry into alleged human rights violations committed by Russia in northeastern regions of Ukraine at the beginning of the war in late February and March 2022.
The mission of the independent commission is to investigate and preserve evidence of human rights violations by Russia in Ukraine.
The council also tasked the human rights chief Michelle Bachelet to update its member states on human rights violations committed in Mariupol at its next session in June.
Of the 47-member Geneva-based body, 33 countries voted in support of the resolution, including Japan and the United States. 12 nations abstained, such as India and Pakistan. China and Eritrea voted against.
Russia, which was suspended from the UN council in April following its invasion of Ukraine, did not attend the meeting, although it could have participated in the discussions without being allowed to vote.
In a video message delivered before the vote, Ukraine's first deputy foreign minister, Emine Dzhaparova, said the regions to be investigated "have experienced the most gruesome human rights violations on the European continent in decades."
Speakers:
+ Vote of the Resolution: the council voted 33-2 to create an investigation into alleged violations
Please, open the PDF documents attached for the transcripts of each speaker statement.
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Statements | HRC
Interactive dialogue with the Independent International Commission of Inquiry on the Syrian Arab Republic on its oral update, 56th Session of the Human Rights Council.
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Statements | HRC
Opening statement by the Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights Belarus, Anaïs Marin (last address of Ms. Marin as Special Rapporteur before the Council), at the 56th session of the Human Rights Council.
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Statements | UNRWA
UN Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA) Commissioner-General Philippe Lazzarini addresses the opening of UNRWA's Advisory Commission in Geneva
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Statements | HRC
Interactive dialogue with the Independent International Commission of Inquiry on the Occupied Palestinian Territory, including East Jerusalem, and Israel
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Statements | HRC
Interactive Dialogue on the oral update of the Independent International Fact-Finding Mission for the Sudan, at the UN Human Rights Council's 56th session.
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Statements | HRC
Statement by Volker Türk, United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights - 56th Session of the Human Rights Council, Interactive dialogue on Myanmar
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Statements | HRC
Statement by Volker Türk, UN High Commissioner for Human Rights - Global Update, 56th session of the Human Rights Council
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Statements | UNCTAD
Opening of UN Trade and Development (UNCTAD)'s Global Leaders Forum "Charting a new development course in a changing world", marking UNCTAD’s 60th anniversary.
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Statements , Conferences | HRC
Consideration by the UN Human Rights Council of draft resolution L.30: “Human rights situation in the Occupied Palestinian Territory, including East Jerusalem, and the obligation to ensure accountability and justice”, followed by vote.
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Statements , Conferences | HRC
Report of the Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights in the Palestinian territories occupied since 1967, Ms. Francesca Albanese