Human Rights Council: Statement on Justice for the victims and survivors of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine

HUMAN RIGHTS COUNCIL 56th REGULAR SESSION

HRC, ID on oral presentation of HC on Ukraine (res. 50/30) and interim report of SG on human rights in Crimea
(GA res. 78/221)

Statement by Legal Action Worldwide (LAW)

10 July 2024

Commissioners  

Over two years have passed since Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine, which has brought with it widespread and systematic atrocity crimes and human rights violations, as documented by the Independent Commission established by this Council.  

This week, Legal Action Worldwide, the Clooney Foundation for Justice, and Truth Hounds filed an individual communication to the Human Rights Committee on behalf of the families of 16 people killed in a Russian missile attack on the city of Vinnytsia.   

The families that LAW and its partners represent in our communication are just a handful of the thousands of victims of Russian aggression in Ukraine.  

When assessing the human rights impacts of armed conflict, we often limit ourselves to the narrow lens of international humanitarian law. Yet, as General Comment 36 of the Human Rights Committee affirmed, a state waging aggressive war violates the right to life of all people killed as a result.  

We urge all states to voice their support for General Comment 36, and reaffirm that under human rights law, there can be no “collateral damage” in an aggressive war. 

Justice for the victims and survivors of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine requires recognition and compensation for all suffering and damage caused. This goes beyond killings and must include property damage, environmental destruction, and impacts on physical and mental health – in other words, the full spectrum of human rights protection.  

Commissioners, ensuring this compensation will require bold, coordinated action from states, international organizations, and civil society. How will your office support these efforts?