UNITED NATIONS HUMAN RIGHTS COUNCIL

50th session

 

Interactive Dialogue

on the High Commissioner’s oral presentation on Ukraine and

the interim report of the Secretary-General on human rights in Crimea

5 July 2022

 

Intervention by Portugal

 

Mr. President,

Portugal aligns with the EU statement. We thank the High Commissioner for her oral presentation on Ukraine and the Secretary-General for his report on Crimea.

132 days have gone by since Russia began its brutal and unjustified aggression against Ukraine. 132 days where we have all witnessed widespread and gross violations of international humanitarian law and international human rights law.

Even in times of war, States must abide by a set of rules about what can and cannot be done in the context of an armed conflict. In Ukraine, these rules have been flouted or outright neglected. The indiscriminate attacks against civilians, the bombing of schools and hospitals and the use of torture are simply not acceptable.

Portugal calls on Russia to cease all military hostilities and to fully comply with its obligations under international law.

We support the accountability mechanisms in this context, including the Commission of Inquiry established by this Council and OHCHR’s Human Rights Monitoring Mission in Ukraine, as well as the work carried out by the Moscow Mechanism of the OSCE, the International Criminal Court and the International Court of Justice.

We are also deeply concerned by human rights violations and abuses in the Crimean Peninsula. We condemn the intimidation faced by journalists, lawyers and human rights defenders in Crimea as well as the persecutions and arbitrary detentions faced by Crimean Tatars.

Mr. President,

Portugal will continue to protect the 46.000 Ukrainians and other nationals living in Ukraine who sought refuge in our country, and we shall keep on sending humanitarian aid to Ukraine, in line with our 2.1-million-euro pledge.

But for the human rights of all persons affected by the conflict to be fully protected, respected and fulfilled, Russia must end this war.

Thank you.

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