More than 100 ministers and heads of state are taking part in a UN Human Rights Council session in Geneva that began yesterday, seeking to tackle issues ranging from Russia’s alleged war crimes in Ukraine to China’s treatment of its Muslim minority.
During the session, which runs until April 4, many states are expected to make efforts to extend the mandate of a UN investigation body established to probe atrocities in Ukraine.
Kyiv, which has called for the establishment of a special tribunal to prosecute Russia’s political and military leadership over the invasion, has said the body is essential to ensure that Russia is held accountable for its crimes.
Photo: Reuters
“We believe that it should be both a technical extension of the mandate, but also substantially strengthen the text,” UN Permanent Representative of Ukraine Yevheniia Filipenko said on Friday.
Kyiv and its allies object to the participation of Russian Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs Sergei Ryabkov, who is scheduled to address the council on Thursday.
It is to be the first time a Moscow official has attended in person since the war began a year ago.
Russia, which denies committing war crimes or targeting civilians in Ukraine, was suspended from the council over the invasion in April, but can still take part as an observer.
Western diplomats have been publicly tight-lipped on their reaction to Ryabkov’s presence after staging a walkout of a speech by Russian Minister of Foreign Affairs Sergei Lavrov at the council last year over the war.
Filipenko said Ukraine did not welcome Russia’s presence and would “act accordingly,” without giving details.
The Geneva-based UN human rights council is the only body consisting of governments to protect human rights worldwide. It does not have legally binding powers, but its debates often bring heightened scrutiny to issues, and it can spur investigations that feed evidence to national and international courts.
Other high-level officials due to attend include Iranian Minister of Foreign Affairs Hossein Amirabdollahian, German Minister of Foreign Affairs Annalena Baerbock and Congolese President Felix Tshisekedi.
Countries are expected to watch how UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Volker Turk refers to China after his predecessor, Michelle Bachelet, was accused by some rights groups of being too soft on Beijing.
A UN report published last year found that the detention in China of Uighurs and other Muslims could constitute crimes against humanity. Beijing denies any abuses.
The council is not expected to pursue a China motion this time after a Western-led bid to hold a debate on China’s treatment of its Muslim minorities failed last year.
US ambassador to the UN Human Rights Council Michele Taylor said that Washington would “continue to shine a spotlight” on China, and is in talks on how to do so.
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