Lithuania's Permanent Representative to the UN, Ambassador Raimonda Murmokaitė said that the UN Human Rights Monitoring Mission in Ukraine was one of the few sources that provided comprehensive and reliable information about the human rights situation in eastern Ukraine, which was occupied by illegal armed groups, as well as in Russian-occupied Crimea.
"Reports of the UN Human Rights Monitoring Mission indicate that the territory of Ukraine occupied by armed groups is plagued by impunity and the absence of the rule of law, civilians are being subjected to various human rights abuses and crimes," reminded Lithuania's Permanent Representative. She also drew attention to the fact that civilians bore the greatest burden of the conflict and highlighted the need to ensure accountability in cases of human rights violations committed in Ukraine.
At the event, the UN Assistant Secretary-General for Human Rights Ivan Šimonovic presented the 11th Report of the UN Human Rights Monitoring Mission in Ukraine and pointed out that civilians suffered the brunt of the violence during the armed conflict.
"Nearly 8,000 people have been killed since mid-April 2014. The number of civilian casualties nearly doubled during the last three months. It is necessary to end the war as soon as possible and to ensure the implementation of the Minsk accords," the UN representative noted. He also drew attention to the deteriorating situation of national minorities in the temporarily occupied territory of Ukraine, including Crimea, and to the situation of Crimean Tartars. The UN representative welcomed the successful cooperation with the Government of Ukraine in addressing current problems in the protection of human rights. According to him, Ukraine is taking into account the recommendations that were provided by the UN Human Rights Monitoring Mission and looking for effective ways to implement them.
The report covers the period from 16 May to 15 August 2015.
