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International conference with a focus on the human rights situation in Ukraine.

The Special Rapporteur on human rights defenders, Michel Forst, is to present his first report to the General Assembly on 23 October 2014. The Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights in Belarus, Miklós Harastzi, is to present a thematic report on human rights defenders in Belarus to the General Assembly.
This joint side-event aims at highlighting the role of human rights defenders in two neighbouring countries, Belarus and Ukraine.

Addressing the crisis in Ukraine, which is the result of the violent repression of peaceful protestors from end of November 2013 to February 2014 by the Ukrainian government, will need full accountability for human rights violations on all sides. The sense of impunity continues to grow in the country, as investigations into killings of EuroMaidan protestors are still awaited and those holding arms in Eastern Ukraine enjoy a sort of immunity sponsored by the Russian Federation for their crimes.

We expect you Mr High Commissioner to always be principled and vocal, avoid double-standards, and hold powerful States as accountable for human rights violations as those you might identify as friendly ones. We see a worrisome trend in the Office of the High Commissioner to neglect human rights violations in Europe. We strongly welcome though the work done by your Office since April in Ukraine.

The NGO Soldiers’ Mothers of Saint Petersburg recently denounced the deaths of Russian soldiers in Ukraine and the silence of the authorities in this regard. The NGO specifically denounced that families and the soldiers themselves were not informed correctly. This public acknowledgement of Russia’s direct involvement in Ukraine was punished by the authorities in Moscow by labeling the NGO “foreign agent.”

The government of Ukraine needs to do more to bring local human rights defenders into the process of bringing peace and justice to their troubled, divided country, even if the International Criminal Court (ICC) is allowed to take on an extended role of its own there.

Ukrainian authorities should refer situation on the internationally recognised territory of Ukraine to the International Criminal Court (ICC) until the state becomes a member of the ICC by acceding to the Rome Statute

The sense of impunity for all the parties in Ukraine holding weapons must end. Ukraine’s Government needs to ensure that the investigation into violence by law enforcement and State agents is credible and transparent, bringing those responsible to justice. Cooperation by all with international mechanisms must also be ensured.

In March 2013, the Human Rights Council adopted a resolution on the protection of human rights defenders. It establishes principles and standards for States to create an enabling environment for human rights defenders. One year after its adoption, the Human Rights House Network calls upon States to implement this resolution.