The Human Rights Committee today expressed extreme concern at the ongoing military invasion of Ukraine by the Russian Federation, conducted in breach of the fundamental principles of the United Nations, including the prohibition of the threat or use of force.
Photini Pazartzis, Chair of the Committee, said the Committee had scheduled the review of the eighth periodic report of the Russian Federation for this afternoon and tomorrow morning. They were informed that the delegation could not travel to Geneva due to travel restrictions.
Ms. Pazartzis expressed the Committee’s extreme concern at the ongoing military invasion of Ukraine by the Russian Federation conducted in breach of the fundamental principles of the United Nations, including the prohibition of the threat or use of force. The Committee recalled the preamble of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, according to which the principles proclaimed in the United Nations Charter were the foundation of freedom, justice and peace in the world.
Ms. Pazartzis reminded the State party that it was bound by the Covenant to respect and to ensure to all individuals within its territory and subject to its jurisdiction, as well as to individuals under its effective control, the rights recognised in the Covenant. The Committee urged the State party to take all measures necessary to comply with its obligations, in particular with the right to life, the supreme right from which no derogation was permitted, even in situations of armed conflict.
The Committee expected the State party to come before it for the review of its eighth periodic report at the next session in July 2022, Ms. Pazartzis said.
The Committee will next meet on Monday, 7 March at 10 a.m. to consider the sixth periodic report of Iraq (CCPR/C/IRQ/6).