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“Russian military aggression followed by the full-scale invasion is all due to impunity, which began with Crimea… we still don’t know where it might lead in the end.”
On 26 February Ukraine marks the Day of Resistance to Occupation of the Autonomous Republic of Crimea and the City of Sevastopol. Ten years ago on that day thousands of Crimean activists gathered outside the Crimean Parliament to show resistance against Russian occupation and in support of Ukraine’s territorial integrity. This resistance still continues today in different forms. In this interview, HRHF asked four prominent Crimean human rights defenders and representatives of Human Rights House Crimea member organisations, to reflect on the situation in Crimea over the past decade and share their perspectives about the future.
“The perpetrators of human rights violations and war crimes must be held accountable… we won’t stop [until then].”
Ahead of the second anniversary of the full-scale Russian invasion of Ukraine, HRHF spoke with Ukrainian human rights defender Liudmyla Yankina about the main challenges facing civil society, and the situation for human rights in Ukraine. We also discussed what has changed over the last two years through the prism of her work protecting representatives of civil society.
Holding Russia accountable for violations at home and abroad and other priorities at HRC54
Human Rights House Foundation (HRHF) was active throughout the 54th session of the UN Human Rights Council (HRC) advocating on key issues including calling for the renewal of the mandate of the Special Rapporteur on human rights in Russia, as well as the issue of reprisals for civil society engaging with the UN, and the human rights situations in Belarus, Georgia, Serbia and Ukraine.
HRC54: HRHF welcomes renewal of Russia Special Rapporteur’s mandate
HRHF welcomes the UN Human Rights Council’s (HRC) adoption of a new resolution on Russia, which renews the mandate of the UN Special Rapporteur on the human rights situation in the Russian Federation.
HRC54: Human rights in Crimea and the newly occupied territories of Ukraine
On 9 October 2023, Human Rights House Foundation delivered a statement at HRC54, highlighting the human rights situation in Crimea and the newly occupied territories of Ukraine. In particular, HRHF drew attention to the situations for imprisoned human rights defenders Vladyslav Yesypenko Emir-Usein Kuku and Iryna Danylovych.
States should refrain from voting for Russia in upcoming UN Human Rights Council election
HRHF joins other international NGOs in calling on UN Member States to refrain from voting for Russia at the UN Human Rights Council elections on 10 October in New York.
HRC54: HRHF calls for renewal of UN Special Rapporteur on Russia’s mandate
On 22 Septmeber 2023, Human Rights House Foundation called for the renewal of the mandate of the Special Rapporteur on the human rights situation in the Russian Federation during an interactive dialogue with the Special Rapporteur at the 54th session of the UN Human Rights Council.
HRC54: The Human Rights Situation in the Russian Federation
Human Rights House Foundation hosted a side event exploring the human rights situation in the Russian Federation on 20 September 2023. The side event was held ahead of the first Interactive Dialogue by the new UN Special Rapporteur on the human rights situation in Russia, and featured a discussion with with representatives of Russian civil society and the Special Rapporteur.
The Sunflower Declaration
Human Rights House Foundation co-signs the Sunflower Declaration that was launched by Nobel Peace Prize laureates at the Nobel Peace Conference in Oslo on 31 August 2023. The Declaration calls for urgent action to protect human rights defenders at risk.