US Secretary of State Anthony Blinken told the UN Human Rights Council that Russian crimes in Ukraine are increasing by the hour, with attacks hitting hospitals, schools and residential buildings with civilians.
Moscow faced growing isolation on Tuesday as President Vladimir Putin showed no signs of stopping the invasion of Ukraine, where fierce Russian fighting and shelling have killed dozens of people and sparked a refugee crisis.
“Russian attacks are hitting schools, hospitals and residential buildings”, Blinken said in a video message to the Geneva forum. “Reports of human rights abuses and violations of international humanitarian law by Russia are increasing by the hour.”
He added that the urgent council debate on Ukraine scheduled for Thursday, in which a resolution tabled by Kiev and its allies would establish an international investigation into the violations, is a “important step to ensure documentation and accountability.”
“We must send a resolute and unified message that President (Vladimir) Putin must stop this unconditionally.”, he stated.
“We must reject Russia’s attempts to falsely justify this attack as a defense of human rights, misappropriating terms we reserve for the worst atrocities and disrespecting all victims of those crimes.“, he pointed.
Uzra Zeya, US Under Secretary of State for Civilian Security, Democracy and Human Rights, told reporters in Geneva after the speech that the Russian invasion was “provoking a humanitarian and human rights catastrophe”.
Blinken’s speech marked Washington’s return as a voting member of the UN’s top human rights body, which the Trump administration abandoned in 2018 for what it called chronic bias against Israel and a lack of reform. .
But he said the Joe Biden administration would continue to counter what he called the “the council’s anti-Israel bias and the council’s unfair and disproportionate focus on Israel.”
Blinken assured that China “continues to commit genocide and crimes against humanity in Xinjiang” with Muslim Uyghurs. He was referring to reports that around a million Uyghurs are being held in massive camps in the remote northwestern region, some of them subjected to forced labor, something Beijing denies.
He asked that the UN human rights chief, Michelle Bachelet, make public the report of her office with the conclusions on the situation.
Source: Gestion
Ricardo is a renowned author and journalist, known for his exceptional writing on top-news stories. He currently works as a writer at the 247 News Agency, where he is known for his ability to deliver breaking news and insightful analysis on the most pressing issues of the day.
