UNGA Third Committee adopts updated draft resolution on human rights situation in Crimea

Sixty-four countries voted in favor of the draft resolution, 20 countries voted against, 94 abstained, an Ukrinform correspondent reported from New York.

The document emphasizes that the seizure of Crimea by force is illegal and a violation of international law, and these territories must be immediately returned to Ukraine.

The draft resolution authors underscore that the organs and officials of the Russian Federation established in the temporarily occupied Crimea are illegitimate and should be referred to as “occupying authorities of the Russian Federation”.

The draft resolution expresses concern about the fact of prosecution by the occupying authorities of the Russian Federation in Crimea for publication of the reports of the Secretary-General on the situation of human rights in Crimea.

The authors of the document also express deep concern about politically motivated prosecutions, torture, arbitrary detentions and arrests, extrajudicial killings, abductions, enforced disappearances, mentioning such people as Emir-Usein Kuku, Halyna Dovhopola, Server Mustafayev, Vladyslav Yesypenko, Nariman Dzhelyal and many others.

The document also touches upon the restrictions faced by Ukrainians, including the

indigenous people of Crimea – the Crimean Tatars, in exercising their economic,

social and cultural rights, including the right to work, as well as the ability to maintain their identity and culture and to education in the Ukrainian and Crimean Tatar languages.

Destructions of cultural and natural heritage, illegal archaeological excavations, illicit transfer of cultural property and persecution of religious traditions are condemned.

The authors express concern about the militarization and assimilation of young people in Crimea by the Russian Federation, including combat training for Crimean children for military service in the Russian armed forces and the introduction of a “military - patriotic” education system.

The illegitimacy of conduct by the occupying power of an all-Russian population census in Crimea is highlighted.

It is underscored that the occupying power must ensure that safe drinking water is enjoyed by all residents of Crimea without discrimination and they are provided with access to sufficient, safe, acceptable, physically accessible and affordable water for personal and domestic use.

Presenting the draft resolution before the vote, Permanent Representative of Ukraine to the UN Sergiy Kyslytsya noted that the resolution was based on the report of the UN Secretary-General on the human rights situation in Crimea, prepared in August.

Kyslytsya stressed that a number of essential elements were included in the draft resolution. The document, in particular, calls on the occupying power to provide Crimean people with fresh water; stop reprisals against indigenous peoples; lift bans on religious groups; stop the destruction of cultural and natural heritage; ensure the safety of journalists and other media workers; investigate enforced disappearances; release political hostages.

Minister of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine Dmytro Kuleba welcomed the adoption of the updated text of the draft resolution on the human rights situation in Crimea by the UN GA Third Committee.

“I welcome the strong draft resolution on human rights in Crimea just passed by UNGA’s 3rd committee. First mention of support to the Crimea Platform, calls on Russia to release Ukrainian political prisoners, protect the rights of indigenous Crimean Tatars among key highlights,” the minister posted on Twitter.

The UN General Assembly is expected to vote on the resolution in December.

The resolution was co-sponsored, in particular, by Australia, Austria, Bulgaria, Canada, Croatia, the Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Georgia, Germany, Iceland, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, the Netherlands, Norway, Poland, and Moldova.

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