RES/26/30 Cooperation and assistance to Ukraine in the field of human rights

GE.14-08376 (E)

*1408376*

Human Rights Council Twenty-sixth session Agenda item 10 Technical assistance and capacity-building

Resolution adopted by the Human Rights Council

26/30 Cooperation and assistance to Ukraine in the field of human rights

The Human Rights Council,

Guided by the Charter of the United Nations, the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and other relevant international human rights instruments,

Bearing in mind relevant regional instruments, in particular the European Convention for the Protection of Human Rights and Fundamental Freedoms,

Recalling General Assembly resolution 68/262 of 27 March 2014 on the territorial integrity of Ukraine,

Reaffirming its commitment to the sovereignty, independence, unity and territorial integrity of Ukraine within its internationally recognized borders,

Recalling that it is the primary responsibility of States to promote and protect all human rights and fundamental freedoms,

Recalling also the Geneva Joint Statement on Ukraine of 17 April 2014 outlining initial concrete steps to de-escalate tensions and restore security for all citizens, and stressing the importance of its full implementation by all parties,

Recalling further the statement made by the Secretary-General on 14 June 2014, in which he expressed concern at the violence in Eastern Ukraine and called for a solution through negotiation and dialogue,

Acknowledging the commitment of the Government of Ukraine to promote and protect human rights, and recognizing the efforts made by the Government to strengthen democracy and the rule of law and protection of human rights, including by promoting an inclusive political dialogue that reflects the diversity of society and includes representation from all parts of Ukraine,

Noting with serious concern the ongoing activities by illegal armed groups in the Donetsk and Luhansk regions with external support, which remain a major factor causing the worsening situation in the protection of human rights in these regions,

United Nations A/HRC/RES/26/30

General Assembly Distr.: General 15 July 2014

Original: English

Expressing deep concern at the lack of access of impartial and independent human rights monitors to the Autonomous Republic of Crimea and the city of Sevastopol,

Welcoming the continued efforts by the Secretary-General, the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights, the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe, the Council of Europe and other international and regional organizations to assist Ukraine in promoting and protecting human rights,

1. Welcomes the reports of the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights on the human rights situation in Ukraine, based on the findings of the United Nations human rights monitoring mission in Ukraine;

2. Commends the Office of the High Commissioner for the rapid deployment of the monitoring mission, for providing regular, accurate and public reports on the human rights situation, as well as on emerging concerns and risks, and for documenting the facts and circumstances of alleged human rights violations and abuses;

3. Welcomes the cooperation of the Government of Ukraine with the monitoring mission and the renewal of its mandate in Ukraine until 15 September 2014, and fully supports the continued assistance of the Office of the High Commissioner to the Government of Ukraine;

4. Calls upon all concerned to cooperate fully with, provide access to and allow deployment of independent and impartial human rights monitors, including by the monitoring mission, and to comply strictly with all applicable international law;

5. Also calls upon all concerned to implement the recommendations contained in the reports of the Office of the High Commissioner, and welcomes the efforts of the Government of Ukraine already made in this regard aimed at, inter alia, the implementation of the Geneva Joint Statement on Ukraine of 17 April 2014;

6. Calls upon the Government of Ukraine to continue its reform efforts aimed at strengthening the human rights protection of all citizens, the rule of law and democracy, in particular in areas identified by the monitoring mission;

7. Welcomes the holding of presidential elections in Ukraine on 25 May 2014;

8. Expresses concern that, despite the efforts of the election administration to ensure voting throughout the country, individuals were not able to take part in voting in parts of the Luhansk and Donetsk regions owing to systematic disruption by illegal armed groups and in the Autonomous Republic of Crimea and the city of Sevastopol;

9. Calls upon the Government of Ukraine to continue to investigate all alleged human rights violations and abuses in a prompt, impartial, transparent and comprehensive manner, and to ensure accountability, including in relation to the Maidan protests and the violence in Odessa on 2 May 2014;

10. Welcomes the cooperation of the Government of Ukraine with the special procedures of the Human Rights Council, in line with its standing invitation, and encourages continued cooperation in this regard;

11. Also welcomes the statement by the Special Rapporteur on minority issues on her country visit to Ukraine containing the initial findings, and urges all concerned to strictly respect the rights of persons belonging to ethnic, national, linguistic and religious minorities;

12. Calls for an immediate end to all acts of discrimination and harassment, in particular towards persons belonging to minorities and indigenous peoples and other residents of the Autonomous Republic of Crimea and the city of Sevastopol, including ethnic Ukrainians and Crimean Tatars;

13. Also calls for the protection of all human rights in all of Ukraine, in particular in the Autonomous Republic of Crimea and the city of Sevastopol in issues related to, inter alia, citizenship, right of residence, labour rights, property and land rights, access to health and education, peaceful assembly, and the freedoms of expression, association, religion and belief;

14. Calls upon all concerned to promote a safe and enabling environment for journalists to perform their work independently and without undue interference;

15. Strongly condemns the violence and abuses committed by illegal armed groups, including abductions, unlawful detentions, killings, torture and ill-treatment, disappearances and harassment of journalists, international observers and other people, and urges all members of illegal armed groups to immediately disarm and stop their unlawful acts, including to immediately release all those unlawfully detained, and to vacate occupied public and administrative buildings, in accordance with the provisions of the Geneva Joint Statement;

16. Urges the Government of Ukraine to conduct security and law enforcement operations in accordance with applicable international law;

17. Invites the High Commissioner to report on the implementation of the present resolution to the Human Rights Council at its twenty-seventh session, followed by an interactive dialogue.

40th meeting 27 June 2014

[Adopted by a recorded vote of 23 to 4, with 19 abstentions. The voting was as follows: In favour:

Austria, Benin, Botswana, Chile, Costa Rica, Côte d’Ivoire, Czech Republic, Estonia, France, Germany, Ireland, Italy, Japan, Maldives, Mexico, Montenegro, Philippines, Republic of Korea, Romania, Sierra Leone, the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, United States of America

Against: China, Cuba, Russian Federation, Venezuela (Bolivarian Republic of)

Abstaining: Algeria, Argentina, Brazil, Burkina Faso, Congo, Ethiopia, Gabon, India, Indonesia, Kazakhstan, Kenya, Kuwait, Namibia, Pakistan, Peru, Saudi Arabia, South Africa, United Arab Emirates, Viet Nam]