War in Ukraine
The Commissioner and her Office have been actively engaged in the response to the human rights consequences of the war in Ukraine since the beginning of the conflict.
This engagement has so far involved, among other things, a series of monitoring missions carried out in March 2022 to countries receiving people fleeing Ukraine; two visits to Ukraine (in May 2022 and in February 2023), including a field visit in the Kyiv region; and a Memorandum on the human rights consequences of the war in Ukraine, published in July 2022.
Moreover, it has involved regular exchanges with Ukrainian authorities, including Ukraine’s Prosecutor General, representatives of Parliament, and Parliamentary Commissioner for Human Rights, as well as with the Office of the ICC Prosecutor and international governmental and non-governmental organisations.
The Commissioner has also been in direct contact with Ukrainian and Russian human rights defenders and published statements on specific human rights issues and the situation of particularly vulnerable persons.
She will continue to use her mandate to address the human rights violations resulting from the war in Ukraine.
Statement
Russia’s full-scale attack on Ukraine, 2 years on: our common struggle in defence of Ukrainian people’s human rights
Tomorrow marks two years since the beginning of the full-scale invasion of Ukraine by the Russian Federation, and two years of immense suffering for the Ukrainian people. The war rages on, and serious violations of human rights and international humanitarian law continue to be committed. Each new...
Speech
Let us keep doing our utmost to bring all Ukrainian children back home
Speech (delivered via video message) by the Council of Europe Commissioner for Human Rights, Dunja Mijatović for the Conference “Joint Steps to Bring Kids Back UA”, organised by the Ukrainian Parliament Commissioner for Human Rights in Kyiv on 8 December 2023 Excellencies, Ladies and Gentlemen,...
Speech
The resilience of the Ukrainian people stands as a testament to the indomitable spirit of freedom
Speech by the Council of Europe Commissioner for Human Rights, Dunja Mijatović (delivered via video message) for the International conference "Freedom or Fear" dedicated to the 75th anniversary of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, organised by the Ukrainian Parliament Commissioner for...
доповідь
Комісарка привертає увагу до боротьби кримських татар за права людини
"Кримські татари в Криму, і особливо ті, хто виступає проти незаконної анексії Криму або висловлює незгоду з інших питань, зазнають численних серйозних порушень прав людини, переслідувань, дискримінації та стигматизації з боку російської окупаційної влади. Додатковим тягарем є культура...
Country visit
Необхідно вжити термінових заходів для возз'єднання українських дітей, переміщених до Росії та на окуповані Росією території, з їхніми сім'ями
"Відмова Росії повернути українських дітей, розлучених зі своїми сім'ями та законними опікунами, є серйозним порушенням їхніх прав. Необхідно терміново визначити конкретні механізми та рішення, які допоможуть возз'єднати цих дітей з їхніми сім'ями", - заявила сьогодні Комісарка Ради Європи з прав...
Joint statement
Brutal aggression against Ukraine: One Year On
Icelandic Minister for Foreign Affairs and President of the Committee of Ministers Thórdís Kolbrún Reykfjörd Gylfadóttir, President of the Parliamentary Assembly Tiny Kox, Secretary General Marija Pejčinović Burić, Commissioner for Human Rights Dunja Mijatović as well as President of the Congress...
Speech
Commissioner stresses the importance of solidarity with and among human rights defenders
"Human rights defenders need more solidarity from member states, their citizens and civil society, as well as solidarity among themselves", said the Council of Europe Commissioner for Human Rights, Dunja Mijatović, in a conference organised today in Oslo by the Norwegian Helsinki Committee in...
World Children's Day
Protecting and supporting children impacted by the war in Ukraine must be top priority
“The war in Ukraine has been devastating for children. Council of Europe member states should redouble their efforts to protect and support the children who are suffering as a result of Russia’s brutal war in Ukraine”, said the Council of Europe Commissioner for Human Rights, Dunja Mijatović,...
Statement
Justice for victims of missile attacks on Ukraine’s civilian population
The deadly hail of missiles and rockets that rained on Kyiv, Zaporizhzhia, Dnipro and dozens of other cities in Ukraine this morning and yesterday is a stark reminder of the Russian regime’s utter disdain for human suffering in the pursuance of its aggression against Ukraine. Many lives were lost...
Меморандум
Комісаром Ради Європи з прав людини оприлюднено Меморандум «Про наслідки війни в Україні для сфери захисту прав людини»
Сьогодні, Комісар Ради Європи з прав людини Дуня Міятович опублікувала меморандум, присвячений темі наслідків війни в Україні для сфери захисту прав людини. Мета даного меморандуму – розглянути окремі наслідки війни для гуманітарної та правозахисної сфери і висвітлити питання, що потребують...
Statement
LGBTI people affected by the war in Ukraine need protection
“On the occasion of this year’s International Day against Homophobia, Biphobia and Transphobia, I call on all member states to pay attention to the situation of LGBTI people who are either still in Ukraine or are fleeing the war, so that their vulnerability and needs are fully taken into account...
Відвідування країни
Візит до України: Комісарка Міятович закликає до постійної підтримки постраждалих від війни та забезпечення їм доступу до правосудд
«Масштабні та тяжкі порушення прав людини та міжнародного гуманітарного права, що мали місце в результаті агресії Російської Федерації проти України, приголомшують. Компенсація шкоди, підтримка постраждалих та їхніх родин і забезпечення правосуддя буде неймовірно складним, але обов’язковим до...
Statement
People in the besieged city of Mariupol must urgently be protected from harm
As the fighting around the besieged steel plant in the ruined city of Mariupol intensifies, there is growing uncertainty and concern about the life and human rights of those who still remain in the areas under siege. Many civilians, among them women, children and older persons, reportedly still...
Statement
Kramatorsk: Those responsible for the terrible loss of civilian life must be held accountable
For dozens of civilians who waited at the railway station in Kramatorsk this morning, hoping to evacuate from areas at risk of attacks by the Russian forces, the journey to safety ended in a bloodbath as the station’s grounds were struck by ballistic missiles. Hundreds more were reportedly...
Visit to Vatican City
His Holiness Pope Francis and Commissioner Mijatović discuss the human rights of migrants and the humanitarian consequences of the war in Ukraine
Today the Council of Europe Commissioner for Human Rights, Dunja Mijatović, met with His Holiness Pope Francis during a private Audience held in the Vatican City. The Commissioner highlighted her main concerns relating to the erosion in the protection of the human rights of migrants,...
Statement on International Roma Day
Let us fight discrimination and prejudices against Roma fleeing the war in Ukraine
Ahead of International Roma Day, my thoughts are with Ukrainian Roma who not only suffer from the consequences of the horrific war in Ukraine but also often face discrimination and prejudices in Europe when fleeing Ukraine. In these difficult times, it is even more important to protect Roma and...
Statement
Justice needed for residents of Bucha and all other victims of the war in Ukraine
The images of lifeless bodies of civilians, brutally killed in Bucha, render speechless. They provide a haunting illustration to shocking reports of violations of human rights and breaches of international humanitarian law, such as summary executions, abductions, torture, sexual violence, and...
Statement
Life-saving humanitarian and medical aid should immediately be allowed to reach the residents of Mariupol
The image of besieged Mariupol that emerges from reports and survivors’ testimonies is one of unspeakable human suffering as a result of serious human rights violations committed there on a daily basis. Thousands of residents of the city are increasingly desperate as drinking water, food, and...
Missions to the Czech Republic, Hungary Poland, Romania and Slovakia
Commissioner urges more coordinated efforts by all member states to meet the humanitarian needs and protect the human rights of people fleeing the war in Ukraine
“All member states should strengthen their efforts to coordinate – both at domestic and European levels – and scale up support for the response to the humanitarian and human rights needs of people fleeing the war in Ukraine. Medium and long-term planning is urgently needed to ensure...
Human Rights Comment
Not a target – the need to reinforce the safety of journalists covering conflicts
There are many areas around the world, particularly in conflict or post-conflict zones, where it is dangerous, even life-threatening, to practice journalism. The war in Ukraine provides yet another tragic illustration of the vulnerability of journalists in conflict situations. While it is...
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