In its first report on the war in Ukraine, the UN condemned possible war crimes against the civilian population and spoke of “thousands of dead” in the city of Mariupol and the rest of the country. Despite this, the Brazilian government has not signed the proposal to hold an emergency meeting at the United Nations by nearly 60 countries regarding the violations committed by Russian soldiers in Ukraine.
While Itamaraty assured that she would not oppose holding the meeting, she argued for more time to allow independent investigations into human rights violations in the country.
According to the UN, party monitors documented violations of international humanitarian and human rights laws that occurred in the country. The organization says many of these charges relate to violations that could amount to war crimes.
“The high number of civilian casualties and the extent of destruction and damage to civilian objects strongly indicate a violation of the principles of conducting hostilities, namely the prohibition of indiscriminate attacks, proportionality and discrimination, including safeguards.” said.
“Schools, hospitals, private homes and multi-storey residences were destroyed in many places I visited. To date, we have recorded that hundreds of education and health facilities have been destroyed or damaged in conflict-affected areas across the country.” .
Led by Kyiv and all European capitals, the project found enough support for the UN Human Rights Council to hold a meeting on Thursday (12). The aim will be to fully analyze Russia’s war crimes allegations and pass a resolution condemning President Vladimir Putin.
For an extraordinary meeting to be held, the proposal needs one-third of the 47 members of the Council. As of last night, the “magic number” was reached with the support of Finland, France, Gambia, Germany, Japan, USA and other governments. Mexico in Latin America supported the proposal.
A further 37 non-members of the Council gave their support, including several Latin American countries such as Colombia, Costa Rica, Guatemala and Peru. Countries that have close relations with the Kremlin, such as Hungary, also gave their official support.
China, India and South Africa, which are all BRICS members, did not participate in the project.
Called Itamaraty announced its location. “In the Brazilian understanding, holding a special session on Ukraine will give more time to properly conduct investigations into human rights violations in the country,” he said. The investigation process was launched in March with the creation of an investigative commission. But the operation of the engine is far from complete.
“Nevertheless, Brazil does not oppose this initiative, given the deteriorating general situation in the region and the important role that the Human Rights Council plays in monitoring the human rights situation in Ukraine,” he said.
According to the memo, Brazil “supported the discussion in multilateral organizations regarding the situation in Ukraine, in particular the United Nations, where we support initiatives and resolutions on the issue.” “At the last session of the Human Rights Council (HRC) in March, Brazil voted in favor of the resolution on “The Human Rights Situation in Ukraine as a result of Russian aggression”.
“At the same time, the Brazilian Government is watching with concern the evolution of the situation on the ground. Brazil advocated prompt investigation by the competent international authorities of reports of human rights violations in Ukraine in an independent, objective and transparent manner. The Commission of Inquiry established for this purpose in Council Decision 49/1 organs,” he said.
At the UN, the commission is not even fully operational.
Thousands dead, missing, tortured and possible war crimes
Despite this, the party says it has an investigation that provides the first glimpse of crimes committed in Ukraine. Matilda Bogner, head of the UN monitoring mission in the country, presented a list of crimes and human rights abuses Tuesday after visiting 14 cities abandoned by Russian troops.
According to him, at least 204 cases of enforced disappearance could be recorded, mostly by Russian forces. “We have documented some cases where the Russian armed forces detained most young male civilians and transferred them to Belarus and then to Russia, where they were held in pre-trial detention centres,” he said.
One of its focal points was the Bucha region. According to the UN representative, one person there reported how afraid he was to leave home in search of food and water. “We have received reports of more than 300 men, women and children being illegally killed in Bucha and other settlements north of Kiev occupied by the Russian armed forces. Unfortunately, these numbers will continue to rise as we visit more areas.” He warned.. “Depending on the circumstances, the death of a single civilian or someone in war may constitute a war crime,” he insisted. These are illegal executions like extrajudicial executions,” he said.
“What we have gives the first picture of what is happening and concerns in Ukraine. It will take time to understand the true extent of the violations.” said Bogner.
He also states that his team estimated “thousands of dead on Maripoul.” Overall, the UN cites more than 3,000 civilian deaths across Ukraine. But Bogner insists that this number is only a confirmed portion of the crimes. “The total number will be thousands more than we have,” he admitted.
The report also condemns the inhuman treatment and torture of soldiers on both sides.
“People told that relatives, neighbors and friends were killed, injured, detained and disappeared. In Makariv, a family of five who tried to escape in a car with their neighbors was shot by the Russian armed forces. Unfortunately, only two family members survived. “, the UN representative reported.
According to him, in the village of Yahidna in the Chernihiv region, a 70-year-old man spent 24 days in the basement of a local school. “He shared a 76 square meter room with 138 people, the youngest was only two months old. The space was so crowded that he had to sleep standing up and tied himself to the wooden railings. Don’t fall,” he said.
The UN also highlights how both sides in the war began to use schools as military bases and how the Russians throughout the conflict reached civilian populations from simply attacking military targets. According to him, if the reports are confirmed, it could constitute war crimes.
rape
According to the UN, the organization continues to “receive reports of rape, including gang rape, attempted rape, forced nudity, threats of sexual violence against civilian women and girls, men and boys.”
“Women and girls are the most frequently cited victims. During my last visit to cities north of Kiev, we documented a number of cases of sexual violence. In one city we visited, a woman was allegedly raped and killed by a Russian soldier. The same soldier later tried to rape her neighbor. “The woman’s husband intervened, but was later shot by the soldier. He later died,” he said.
“Brazil Equilibrium”
The scenario echoes Brazil’s effort to maintain a delicate balance in the Ukraine war. If Brazil is pressured to condemn violence against civilians and the invasion of a sovereign country, Itamaraty insists Moscow’s plight must also be taken into account.
This stance will meet at least three purposes. Nationally, the first would be to avoid a direct confrontation with Putin and leave the doors in the Kremlin open so Brazil can negotiate access to fertilizers and other products offered by Moscow.
The second goal is to maintain one of Bolsonaro’s few relationships with a foreign leader.
A third to complete would be to not dismantle the multilateral system. It is no coincidence that Brazil did not support Russia’s removal from the Human Rights Council and refrained from other different resolutions that were countermeasures to Moscow.
But during the meeting, Brazil’s position will be tested once again, as a decision will be put to a vote and it will be up to the Administrator to signal how to react.
In recent weeks, the US and UK governments, both Council members, have stepped up pressure on Brazil to make the country part of governments that support Putin’s diplomatic isolation.
source: Noticias
