In an initial address via video conference during the event addressing the “Gross Human Rights Violations due to The Aggression Against Ukraine” , the first lady of Ukraine Olena Zelenska stated that Russia’s invasion is an issue which not only concerns Ukraine, due to its breach of human rights.
The first lady went on to shine a light on the brutal and harsh human rights violations, with photos exhibiting the battered cities of Ukraine following attacks from Russia.
Throughout the address, Zelenska’s presentation exhibited multiple images of Ukrainian cities in the aftermath of Russia’s attacks, with victims including the cities of Bakhmut, Dnipro, Kyiv, Mariupol and others.
“Human rights are like air, they have no borders. Either we have them all or we have none… Therefore justice for Ukraine is justice for the whole world.”
Zelenska thereby called for a legal front for justice in the equal rights for men and women, quoting a 1945 United Nations document following WWII.
During his address, Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba stated “Those responsible must be held fully accountable”, going on to appeal for closure of this chapter. “Let’s prove that everything that seems impossible is ultimately possible when justice is involved.”
Verified civilian casualties of the war in Ukraine have passed 21,000 – with more than 8,000 dead and 13,000+ injured.@UNHumanRights chief @volker_turk demands an immediate end to the suffering and calls for accountability & justice. https://t.co/TvVaiCIpKl pic.twitter.com/R4UMobXwYp
— United Nations (@UN) February 21, 2023
The first event of Wednesday 22nd February was addressed by the First Lady of Ukraine, Ukraine Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba, Netherlands Foreign Minister Wopke Hoekstra, Estonia Foreign Minister Urmas Reinsalu, Guatemala Foreign Minister Mario Adolfo Búcaro Flores and Canada Foreign Minister Mélanie Joly, amongst other speakers. Malta’s Minister for Foreign and European Affairs and Trade Ian Borg will address various events whilst also chairing.
As of February 1, Malta began to hold the presidency of the UN security council, a body which holds the primary responsibility of maintaining international peace and security.
This month, the United Nations marks one year since Russia invaded Ukraine, with the UN general assembly to hold on a draft resolution stressing “the need to reach, as soon as possible, a comprehensive, just and lasting peace” in line with the founding United Nations Charter.
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Photo Source: United Nations / rbc.ua via Wiki