The United Nations Office at Geneva
Multimedia Newsroom
Edited News | OHCHR , UNICEF , WFP , WHO
Bi-Weekly Press Briefing: Ukraine Update OHCHR - WHO - WFP - UNICEF
The United Nations Human Rights Office (OHCHR) expressed concern on Tuesday after photos and videos on social media appeared to show metal cages being built in the philharmonic hall in Ukraine's Mariupol, apparently to restrain Ukrainian prisoners of war (POWs) during proceedings.
OHCHR spokesperson Ravina Shamdasani said the trials by the Russian-backed authorities could come - possibly within days - and warned that such a process could amount to a war crime.
"We are very concerned about the manner in which this is being done. There are pictures in the media of cages being built in Mariupol's philharmonic hall, really massive cages and apparently, the idea is to restrain the prisoners," Ms. Shamdasani told a briefing in Geneva. "This is not acceptable, this is humiliating," she said.
Ms. Shamdasani pointed out how “under international law, individuals entitled to prisoner of war status have combatant immunity and cannot be prosecuted for having participated in hostilities, or for lawful acts of war committed in the course of the armed conflict, even if such acts would otherwise constitute an offence under domestic law."
The spokesperson added that OHCHR was concerned that prisoners of war have generally been held without access to independent monitors, exposing them to the risk of being tortured to extract a confession.
"There have also been worrying public statements by Russian officials and members of affiliated armed groups labelling Ukrainian prisoners of war as ‘war criminals, ‘Nazis’, and ‘terrorists’, thereby undermining the presumption of innocence."
The World Health Organization (WHO) warned that it has seen “an unprecedented number of attacks on healthcare,” since the Russian invasion of Ukraine, which began nearly six months ago.
“As of 23rd of August, over 460 attacks on health care have been verified by WHO, leading to almost 100 deaths and over 100 injuries,” Dr. Jarno Habicht, WHO Representative and Head of WHO Country Office in Ukraine said.
Dr. Habicht stressed that “while these attacks are not only the violation of international law, they are also a barrier for many who need to care.”
“It is not only the supplies and others we need to support – we need to ensure also that the services are available,” he added.
According to the UN Children’s Fund, (UNICEF), officially 356 children have been killed in Ukraine during the war with Russia. Speaking in Geneva, UNICEF spokesperson, James Elder acknowledged it “is a low estimate,” but they “expect it to be many more based on the thoroughness of how verification is done”.
On Monday, UNICEF reported that nearly 1,000 children had been killed or injured in Ukraine (on average five children per day) but the real number is likely higher. Reiterating the urgent need for peace, UNICEF Executive Director Catherine Russell pointed out that “once again, as in all wars, the reckless decisions of adults are putting children at extreme risk. There are no armed operations of this kind that do not result in children being harmed.”
According to the World Food Programme (WFP) the first vessel transporting Ukrainian wheat grain to the Horn of Africa is due to berth in Djibouti on 30 August.
The MV Brave Commander departed from the Black Sea port of Yuzhny on 16 August, as part of the Black Sea Grain Initiative signed by Ukraine, Russia, Türkiye and the UN in July. But Michael Dunford, WFP Regional Director for East Africa, warned that while this was “a very positive development,” it was “not the answer”.
“That one ship, 23,000 metric tons of wheat, is the equivalent of feeding 1.5 million people for just one month. And yet we currently estimate that there could be upwards of 22 million people requiring assistance,” he said.
STORY: Ukraine Update OHCHR WFP WHO UNICEF
TRT: 03:28”
SOURCE: UNTV CH
RESTRICTIONS: NONE
LANGUAGE: ENGLISH / NATS
ASPECT RATIO: 16:9
DATELINE: 23 August 2022, GENEVA, SWITZERLAND
SHOTLIST
- Medium shot, UN Geneva flag alley.
- Wide shot, press room with panel of speakers.
- SOUNDBITE (ENGLISH) Ravina Shamdasani, Spokesperson for OHCHR: “We are concerned by reports that the Russian Federation and affiliated armed groups in Donetsk are planning, possibly in the coming days, to try Ukrainian prisoners of war in what is being labelled an "international tribunal" in Mariupol. While there are few details available, photos and video footage published in the media and on social media appear to show metal cages being built in Mariupol’s Philharmonic Hall, apparently to restrain prisoners of war during proceedings.”
- Close lateral shot, Ravina Shamdasani speaking.
- SOUNDBITE (ENGLISH) Ravina Shamdasani, Spokesperson for OHCHR: “Under international law, individuals entitled to prisoner of war status have combatant immunity and cannot be prosecuted for having participated in hostilities or for lawful acts of war committed in the course of the armed conflict. Even if such acts would otherwise constitute an offence under domestic law.”
- Close shot, journalists taking notes.
- SOUNDBITE (ENGLISH) Ravina Shamdasani, Spokesperson for OHCHR: “We're furthermore concerned that prisoners of war have generally been held without access to independent monitors, exposing them to the risk of being tortured to extract a confession. There have also been worrying public statements by Russian officials and members of affiliated armed groups labelling Ukrainian prisoners of war as "war criminals, as Nazis and as terrorists," thereby undermining the presumption of innocence.”
- Medium lateral shot, journalists and UN staff listening and taking notes.
- SOUNDBITE (ENGLISH) Dr Jarno Habicht, WHO Representative and Head of WHO Country Office in Ukraine: “We have seen an unprecedented number of attacks on health care that has been recorded now over the last six months. As of 23 August, over 460 attacks on health care have been verified by WHO, leading to almost 100 deaths and over 100 injuries, while that number continues.”
- Medium shot, journalist taking notes.
- SOUNDBITE (ENGLISH) Dr Jarno Habicht, WHO Representative and Head of WHO Country Office in Ukraine: “While these attacks are not only a violation of international law, they also bear a barrier for many who need to care as we are going through the war. So it is not only the supplies and others we need to support. We need to ensure also that the services are available.”
- Wide shot, press room with panel of speakers.
- SOUNDBITE (ENGLISH) Michael Dunford, WFP Regional Director For East Africa: “The MV Brave Commander is currently under siege, having left Ukraine. We're expecting it to berth in Djibouti on the 30th. That's the latest arrival date. Now, this is a very positive development, but it's not the answer.”
- Medium shot, journalist taking notes.
- SOUNDBITE (ENGLISH) Michael Dunford, WFP Regional Director For East Africa: “That one ship, 23,000 metric tons of wheat, is the equivalent of feeding 1.5 million people for just one month, and yet we currently estimate that there could be upwards of 22 million people requiring assistance.”
- Close shot, screen showing speaker talking.
- SOUNDBITE (ENGLISH) James Elder, Spokesperson for UNICEF: “The official number of children killed, at least in Ukraine, is 356. But it is a low estimate, as you know, because we expect it, unfortunately, to be many more based on the thoroughness of how verification is done.”
- Medium shot, journalist taking notes.
- Close shot, journalist writing.
- Medium shot, journalists taking notes.
Similar Stories
1
1
1
Edited News | OHCHR
The UN human rights office (OHCHR) on Friday called for an end to continuing expansion of Israeli settlements in the occupied West Bank, where “unchecked” settler violence has surged since the war in Gaza began more than two years ago.
1
1
1
Edited News | WFP
The crisis in eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) continues to worsen amid ongoing fighting that has driven tens of thousands of people from their homes and created acute hunger, the UN World Food Programme (WFP) said on Friday.
1
1
1
Edited News | WFP
Gaza: One million receive food parcels as humanitarians race to ‘push back hunger’
Food is slowly returning to the shelves in Gaza amid “apocalyptic scenes” but supplies are still desperately inadequate, UN humanitarians said on Tuesday, as they issued fresh calls for wider access and continued financial support.
1
1
1
Edited News | OHCHR , UNOG
UN Human Rights Office spokesperson Seif Magango today told the bi-weekly UN press briefing in Geneva of more details that are emerging on the atrocities committed in El Fasher, in Sudan during and after its takeover by the Rapid Support Forces.
1
1
1
Edited News | OHCHR , UNOG
UN Human Rights Office spokesperson Seif Magango made the following comment on Friday at the bi-weekly press briefing in Geneva.
1
1
1
Edited News | OHCHR , UNOG
UN Human Rights Office spokesperson Ravina Shamdasani made the following comment on Friday at the bi-weekly press briefing in Geneva.
1
1
1
Edited News | OHCHR , WHO
Sudan: UN Raises Alarm Over Mass Atrocities in El Fasher as Survivors Report Executions, Killings and Rapes
More details continue to emerge about atrocities committed during and after the fall of El Fasher to the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) in Sudan on 23 October. Since the powerful paramilitary group made a major incursion into the city last week, the UN Human Rights Office has received “horrendous accounts of summary executions, mass killings, rapes, attacks against humanitarian workers, looting, abductions and forced displacement,” said Seif Magango, spokesperson for the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR).
1
1
1
Edited News | OCHA
Ukraine: Russian attacks on energy terrorize population as winter starts; could trigger major ‘crisis within crisis’
The UN’s top aid official in Ukraine expressed concern on Friday about “continuous attacks” on energy production sites and distribution facilities.
1
1
1
Edited News | HRC
Navi Pillay Retires After Decades Defending Human Rights and Pursuing Justice
1
1
1
Edited News | OHCHR , UNOG
The telecommunications shutdowns in Afghanistan in September had serious and far-reaching impacts on people’s lives, according to a briefing paper published today by the UN Human Rights Office and the UN Assistance Mission in Afghanistan (UNAMA).
1
1
1
Edited News | OHCHR , UNOG
UN Human Rights Office spokesperson Jeremy Laurence at the UN Geneva press briefing made the following comment on the ASEAN declaration on the right to a healthy environment.
1
1
1
Edited News | IFRC , OCHA , WMO
‘Catastrophic’ Hurricane Melissa hours from landfall in Jamaica as humanitarians rush to save lives
Millions in Jamaica and across the Caribbean are bracing for massive impact from Hurricane Melissa on Tuesday as the UN and partners are warning of a “severe” and “immediate” humanitarian threat.