the Council of Europe stresses the “imperative to bring justice” to the victims of the conflict

She warns of “disastrous effects” of the Russian invasion on the human rights of Ukrainians. The Council of Europe’s Commissioner for Human Rights, Dunka Mijatovic, insisted on “the imperative to do justice” to the victims of the war in Ukraine, Friday 8 July.

“The attack by the Russian Federation resulted in serious and massive violations of human rights and international humanitarian law, with disastrous effects on the enjoyment of virtually all human rights by the population in Ukraine”, she sums up gravely in a memorandum on the consequences of the war. The Council of Europe is the human rights watchdog on the continent.

Dunka Mijatovic cites in particular “arbitrary executions”, “enforced disappearances”, “violations of the right to property”as well as “cases of torture and ill-treatment”of the “sexual violence” or arbitrary detentions.

“The huge loss of life and the scale of the destruction defy belief.”

Dunka Mijatovic, Commissioner for Human Rights of the Council of Europe

in a memorandum on the consequences of the war in Ukraine

The Council of Europe Commissioner for Human Rights, who traveled to Ukraine in May, calls “respect for international human rights law and international humanitarian law”.

If these allegations of human rights violations “should be thoroughly investigated”, “the priority now must be to create safe conditions for survivors, to ensure them effective access to remedies and justice, and to prioritize the protection of their dignity and well-being”, underlined Dunka Mijatovic. This calls for wearing a “special and urgent attention” to children and women.

For the Commissioner for Human Rights of the Council of Europe, “both the Russian Federation and Ukraine have an obligation to investigate and prosecute the perpetrators of massive human rights violations and serious breaches of international humanitarian law”, she recalled. VSThis justice must also go through “effective coordination between national and international actors” and “effective cooperation with the International Criminal Court”, as well as’“long-term support for the Ukrainian judicial system”.