Climbing conflicts in Ukraine
In an oral update, il à Marques Kehris, Deputy Secretary General of the UN Human Rightsreported a strong escalation of hostilities in Ukraine.
Civil victims increased from April to June, seeing almost 50% dead and additional injuries compared to the same period in 2024.
“More than 90% of these victims took place in a territory controlled by Ukraine,” she said, attributing the point in part to the intensification of Russian drone and missile attacks.
Attacks using aerial warheads and repeated strikes in hospitals have instilled “terror and anxiety” among urban populations, she added. A night attack from June 16 to 17 in kyiv killed more civilians than any other assault in the past year.
While cease-fire negotiations have produced humanitarian gains-such as the exchange of prisoners of war and the return of deceased soldiers-Ms. Kehris stressed arduous conditions of detention.
More than 117 former Ukrainian prisoners of war interviewed by the United Nations Rights Office, Ohchrpointed out torture, including sexual violence, in Russian captivity. Although less widespread, similar abuses have also been documented in unofficial Ukrainian detention facilities, which caused calls to transparent investigations.
The report also noted continuous violations of human rights in the territories occupied by Russia, in particular restrictions on civic space and the exercise of freedom of expression.
“Peace is more imperative than ever,” said Kehris, reiterating calls for immediate cessation of hostilities in accordance with international law.
Structural racism and intersectionality
Ashwini KP, Special rapporteur on contemporary forms of racismpresented a thematic report focused on intersectionality as a tool for racial justice.
Based on the experiences of black feminists and extended by studies focused on the members of the Dalit, Indigenous, Muslims and Roma community, the concept of intersectionality was presented as essential to dismantle systemic discrimination.
“Women of African origin, the oppressed communities of caste, Roma, Arab and Muslim women and other marginalized groups are affected disproportionately due to forms of discrimination that are overlapping,” said Ashwini.
Its report has detailed how states can integrate an intersectional approach, emphasizing data disintegration, the development of participatory policies, legal recognition of multiple discrimination and historical responsibility.
Ashwini stressed the importance of restorative justice for the communities affected by colonialism and slavery and called for states – in particular those historically accomplices – to implement daring reforms.
People search the rubble of a building destroyed in the central band of Gaza.
Deepening of the crisis in Gaza
Francesca Albanese, Special rapporteur on the situation of human rights in the Palestinian territories occupied since 1967Also reported to the council, with a dark update on Gaza.
She described conditions as “apocalyptic” and reported more than 200,000 people killed or injured since October 7, 2023, when Hamas and other Palestinian armed groups attacked Israeli communities – killing at least 1,200 people and taking more than 250 as hostages.
“In Gaza, the Palestinians continue to suffer suffering beyond the imagination,” said Ms. Albanese, describing the Gaza humanitarian foundation supported by Israel as a “death trap-designed to kill or force the theft of a hungry, bombed and emaciated population marked for elimination”.
She also accused Israel of having used conflict as an opportunity to test new weapons and technologies against the population of the “without restraint” enclave.
“The occupation forever has provided optimal test fields for weapons manufacturers and large technologies with little surveillance and zero responsibility-while investors and private and public institutions have largely benefited,” she said.
“We have to reverse the tide,” said Ms. Albanese, calling on the Member States to impose a full embargo on arms in Israel, to suspend all trade agreements and investment relations and to apply responsibility, “ensure that corporate entities are faced with legal consequences for their involvement in serious violations of international law”.
Independent rights experts
Special rapporteurs are independent human rights experts appointed and mandated by the Human Rights Council – The UN’s highest intergovernmental forum on human rights.
Being part of his Special proceduresSpecial rapporteurs and other independent experts are mandated to monitor and assess the situation of rights in certain thematic situations or country.
They work in their individual quality, are not UN staff and do not receive wages.
Publicado anteriormente en Almouwatin.
