Human Rights House Foundation statement
HRC58 – Item 4 – Interactive Dialogue – Ukraine COI
19 March 2025
Thank you, Vice-President.
We are deeply troubled by the Commission’s new findings that Russian authorities have perpetrated enforced disappearances and torture that amount to crimes against humanity, carried out as part of a widespread and systematic attack against the civilian population.
Serious and systematic violations, including deportations, sexual violence, and the torture of detainees, underscore the urgent need to ensure accountability, secure evidence, and support survivors.
There have been more than 150,000 criminal proceedings registered with the Office of the Prosecutor General of Ukraine relating to alleged war crimes. Human Rights Centre Zmina says this is “an overwhelming number”. They further say that this is “an avalanche of atrocities that no law enforcement system, even in the most developed country, could handle alone.”
We therefore call on all parties to fully cooperate with the Commission and for the international community to continue its vital support to victims and survivors. Ensuring accountability for these international crimes is essential, not only for the sake of justice and redress for victims, but also for fostering any future peace grounded in respect for human rights and the rule of law.
Vice-President.
We ask the Commission whether it plans to deepen its investigations into these newly documented crimes against humanity, but we also ask whether the liquidity crisis continues to impact such investigations.
Thank you.
