The United Nations Office at Geneva
Multimedia Newsroom
Edited News , Press Conferences | HRC
HRC - Press Conference: Ukraine Commission of Inquiry on Ukraine - 25 September 2023
'Systematic and widespread' use of torture: UN Commission of Inquiry on Ukraine
The UN Independent International Commission of Inquiry on Ukraine expressed concern on Monday over the "continuous evidence" of war crimes committed by Russian armed forces in Ukraine and presented in the investigators' latest update to the UN Human Rights Council.
Briefing reporters in Geneva, Commission Chair Erik Møse highlighted the "scale and gravity of violations" and emphasized the need for accountability.
“At this stage of the Commission’s work, it is undertaking more in-depth investigations regarding unlawful attacks with explosive weapons, attacks affecting civilians, torture, sexual and gender-based evidence, and attacks on energy infrastructure,” Mr. Møse said. “This may also clarify whether torture or attacks on energy infrastructure amount to crimes against humanity.”
Since its establishment by the Human Rights Council in March 2022, the Commission has travelled over ten times to Ukraine. Recently, the three Commissioners visited the country to interact with authorities at various levels in Kyiv. The Commission expressed regret over the fact that "all communications addressed to the Russian Federation remain unanswered".
According to Commissioner Vrinda Grover, “attacks with explosive weapons in populated areas have led to extensive destruction and damage and have been the leading cause of deaths and injuries among the civilian population”. She added that the Commission deplored that "attacks by Russian armed forces harming civilian and medical facilities, which have protected status, continue to take place”.
The Commission also deplored the fact that conflict-related sexual violence continues to take place "in violation of international humanitarian law and human rights.”
The use of torture by Russian armed forces has been "widespread and systematic", said Commissioner Pablo de Greiff, and it has been taking place in different regions "on the basis of the same methods". It seems to be a "common practice", particularly in places of detention that are under Russian control for extended periods of time, he said. The main targets of torture were persons accused of being informants of the Ukrainian armed forces.
The Commission stated mentioned that in some cases, torture was inflicted with such brutality that it caused the death of the victim.
The UN-appointed independent rights investigators also expressed concern about allegations of genocide in Ukraine. “We are looking further into these issues," said Mr. Møse. "And in connection to that, we also mentioned that one aspect of this may be the question of incitement, which comes from certain Russian media".
The Commission also recalled the need for the Ukrainian authorities to "expeditiously and thoroughly" investigate the few cases of violations by its own forces. “There is a large difference between the Russian violations, the extent of those violations and the incidents we found on the Ukrainian side. We talk consistently about a large number of violations on the Russian side and a few incidents on the Ukrainian side. So, it’s important to take this into account,” said Mr. Møse.
The Commissioners underscored the paramount importance of judicial and non-judicial accountability, including measures that support the needs of the victims, such as effective mental health and psychosocial support.
The mandate of the Commission of Inquiry was extended by the Council last April for a further period of one year. Its next report to the General Assembly is due in October.
-ends-
Story: Commission of Inquiry on Ukraine
DURATION (TRT): 3’27"
SOURCE: UNTV CH
LANGUAGE: ENGLISH/NATS
ASPECT RATIO: 16/9
DATELINE: 25 September 2023, GENEVA SWITZERLAND
FORMAT: HYBRID PRESS BRIEFING
- Exterior medium shot: UN flag alley, UN Geneva
- Wide shot: speakers and attendees at the press conference, screens with speakers
- SOUNDBITE (English) – Erik Møse, Chair of the Commission: “The Commission is deeply concerned at the scale and gravity of violations and the continuous evidence of crimes committed by the Russian armed forces in Ukraine and we emphasize the need for accountability.”
- Wide shot: attendees at the press conference, screens with speaker
- SOUNDBITE (English) – Erik Møse, Chair of the Commission: “At this stage of the Commission’s work, it is undertaking more in-depth investigations regarding unlawful attacks with explosive weapons, attacks affecting civilians, torture, sexual and gender-based evidence, and attacks on energy infrastructure. This may also clarify whether torture or attacks on energy infrastructure amount to crimes against humanity.”
- Wide shot: attendees, cameramen/women, sound engineers and producers at the press conference
- SOUNDBITE (English) – Erik Møse, Chair of the Commission: “We are concerned about the allegations of genocide and that we are looking further into these issues. And in connection to that, we also mentioned that one aspect of this may be the question of incitement, which comes from certain Russian media.”
- Medium shot: speakers and attendees at the press conference, screens with speaker
- SOUNDBITE (English) – Vrinda Grover, Commissioner: “Attacks with explosive weapons in populated areas have led to extensive destruction and damage and have been the leading cause of deaths and injuries among the civilian population.”
- Close shot: photographer and attendee at the press conference
- SOUNDBITE (English) – Vrinda Grover, Commissioner: “We deplore that attacks by Russian armed forces harming civilian and medical facilities, which have protected status, continue to take place. The Commission also deplores the fact that conflict-related sexual violence continues to take place in violation of international humanitarian law and human rights.”
- Medium shot: attendees at the press conference, screen with speaker
- SOUNDBITE (English) – Pablo de Greiff, Commissioner: “There has been widespread and systematic use of torture, that in different regions is taking place, that it is taking place on the basis of the same methods and that seems to be a common practice, particularly in places of detention that are under Russian control for extended periods of time.”
- Wide shot: speakers, attendees and photographer at the press conference, screen with speaker
- SOUNDBITE (English) – Erik Møse, Chair of the Commission: “There is a large difference between the Russian violations, the extent of those violations and the incidents we found on the Ukrainian side. We talk consistently about a large number of violations on the Russian side and a few incidents on the Ukrainian side. So, it’s important to take this into account.”
- Medium shot: speakers at the press conference
- Close shot: attendee at the press conference
- Medium shot: cameramen, sound engineers and producers at the press conference
Similar Stories
1
1
1
Edited News | OCHA , WHO
The deadly Ebola virus outbreak in DR Congo continues to spread across the vast country despite some success in containing it, aid officials said on Tuesday, in a renewed call for international support to help responders on the ground.
1
1
1
Press Conferences | WMO , OCHA , WHO , UNICEF , UN WOMEN , OHCHR , IOM , UNHCR
Update on Ebola from WHO and OCHA, update on the situation of children with the beginning of school in Ukraine from UNICEF, UN Women on the impact of the settlers and restrictions on women and girls in West Bank, OHCHR on the recovery of extensive human remains in Gaza, IOM and UNHCR on the new wave of displacement in Yemen
2
1
2
Press Conferences , Edited News | WFP
‘Super El Niño’ and converging crises worsen hunger in South Sudan and across the region - WFP
South Sudan’s hunger crisis is becoming increasingly catastrophic as violence, extreme weather and dwindling aid leave millions without enough food, the UN World Food Programme (WFP) warned on Tuesday.
1
1
1
Press Conferences | HRC
Update on the human rights situation in Belarus by the UN Group of Independent Experts on the Human Rights Situation in Belarus
1
1
1
Press Conferences | HRC , OHCHR
Update on the human rights situation in Syria by the Independent International Commission of Inquiry on the Syrian Arab Republic
1
1
1
Edited News | UN WOMEN
In war-torn Gaza, a growing number of women-headed households face “impossible decisions” every day, amid ongoing Israeli airstrikes and still-scarce resources, UN humanitarians said on Tuesday.
1
1
1
Press Conferences | UNOG , IOM , UN WOMEN , UNCTAD , WHO , UNECE
IOM Yemen's Western Coast displacement; UN WOMEN on Gaza; UNCTAD Strait of Hormuz disruptions impacts; WHO Ebola logistics in DRC; WHO smoking and infertility; UNECE Data centres and energy.
1
1
1
Edited News | OHCHR , UNOG
UN Human Rights Chief Volker Türk made the following remarks to the Enhanced Interactive Dialogue on the Independent Investigative Mechanism for Myanmar at the 63rd Human Rights Council.
1
Edited News | OHCHR , UNOG
UN Human Rights Chief Volker Türk today delivered an update on the global human rights situation to the 63rdsession of the Human Rights Council in Geneva.
1
1
1
Edited News | WHO
Repeated attacks on humanitarian warehouses put vital medical aid at risk in Ukraine - WHO
A new airstrike overnight damaged one of the main warehouses used by the UN health agency to store humanitarian medical supplies in the Kyiv region, the World Health Organization (WHO) said on Friday. This is the third attack to affect a WHO-used storage in the last three months.
1
1
1
Press Conferences | UNITAR , WMO
UNITAR: GA resolution on the merger of the United Nations System Staff College into the United Nations Institute for Training and Research; WMO: Air Quality and Climate Bulletin released; WHO: Ukraine update
2
2
2
Press Conferences , Edited News | WMO
Powerful El Niño heightens extreme-weather risks through 2027, as countries brace for impact - WMO
Fuelled by extraordinarily warm waters across the tropical Pacific Ocean, the El Niño climate pattern is expected to intensify in the coming months. Forecasters are almost certain that it will persist through February next year, with unusually warm conditions expected across the globe.