The War in Ukraine and Human Rights Observance

Romania asks for human rights observance in the neighboring Ukraine invaded by the Russian troops

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Bogdan Matei, 01.03.2023, 14:00

Bucharest reconfirms Romania’s firm and unflinching
support for the independence, sovereignty and territorial integrity of the
neighboring Ukraine, invaded by Russian troops – Romanian Foreign Minister
Bogdan Aurescu has said before the UN Human Rights Council in Geneva.
Romania’s determination to make a solid contribution to peace, development and
human rights observance is stronger than ever. Human rights are universal,
inalienable, indivisible and interconnected so that there is no human dignity
without human rights, Minister Aurescu went on to say. The head of the
Romanian diplomacy has recalled the recent resolution by the UN General Assembly,
which condemns the war Russia is presently waging on Ukraine. He underlined
that we must make tireless efforts to hold the Russian Federation accountable
for its war crimes in Ukraine and to offer compensations to the large number of
victims.

According to its Foreign Minister, Romania values the efforts of the
UN High Commissioner for Human Rights to document the cases of sexual violence
against women during the armed conflict in that country as well as other cases
of blatant violations of human and POW rights. Ukraine’s victory must be
defined by Ukraine itself – Aurescu says, because it is its legal and moral
right. We, on our part, must provide multilateral support to strengthen
Ukraine’s resilience against the Russian aggression. We must have a consistent
international dialogue and coordination for the post-war reconstruction of
Ukraine based on an ample plan in keeping with the realities on the ground -
Aurescu added.

As early as April 2022, the
famous human rights organization, Human Rights Watch (HWR), announced that it had
documented numerous cases in which Russian troops violated the rights of the
civilians in the occupied areas in Ukraine.

And the situation
worsened in the months that followed. Brief executions, rapes, forced
deportations and situations in which children were taken away from their
families have increased at a geometric rate.

Last month the respected
organization also cautioned Ukraine against the apparent use of antipersonnel
landmines by its forces in the fights for the city of Izium. According to Steve
Goose, director of the Arms Division at Human Rights Watch, Ukrainian forces
appear to have extensively scattered landmines around the Izium area, causing
civilian casualties and posing an ongoing risk.

Russian forces have
repeatedly used antipersonnel mines and committed atrocities across the
country, but this doesn’t justify Ukrainian use of these prohibited weapons,
the HRW official has also said.

(bill)