UN rights chief calls for immediate halt to Russian military action against Ukraine

GENEVA

The UN's human rights chief expressed deep alarm Thursday over Russia's attack on Ukraine, saying it "clearly violates international law."

"Civilians in various parts of Ukraine were awoken by sounds of heavy bombardment and are terrified of further escalation, with many fleeing their homes," UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Michelle Bachelet said in a statement.

"This military action clearly violates international law and puts at risk countless civilian lives. It must be immediately halted."

She was joined by a call from the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) to spare civilian targets in eastern Ukraine.

"We are very concerned about the developments in eastern Ukraine over the past few days. Civilian infrastructure providing essential services, and civilian personnel who operate, maintain, and repair that infrastructure are protected under International Humanitarian Law," said Florence Gillette, the ICRC's head of delegation in Ukraine.

"We remind all sides that in the conduct of military operations, constant care must be taken to spare the civilian population, civilians, and civilian objects."

Bachelet said that states which fail to take all reasonable measures to settle their international disputes by peaceful means "fall short of complying with their obligation to protect the right to life."

Strikes on cities

The UN human rights chief spoke of reports of military strikes near major cities with significant populations, including Kharkiv, Kramatorsk, Odesa, Mariupol, and the capital, Kyiv.

"The protection of the civilian population must be a priority. The use of explosive weapons in populated areas should – at all costs – be avoided," Bachelet said.

The high commissioner called for full respect for international humanitarian law, particularly the four Geneva Conventions of 1949 and their first additional protocol of 1977 and international human rights law.

"In the conduct of hostilities, the principles of distinction, proportionality, and precautions must be fully respected, in particular by taking all required measures to protect the civilian population and civilian objects from the effects of the hostilities," said Bachelet.

She said that the UN Human Rights Monitoring Mission remains in Ukraine and will continue monitoring and reporting the situation closely.

"An information war is also underway, and it is particularly crucial at this time that we continue to closely monitor and attempt to verify reports of human rights violations," said Bachelet.
Such violations include civilian casualties, damage to civilian objects, including critical infrastructure, and other impacts on human rights on the ground.