Interactive Dialogue on Ukraine
Human Rights Council – 48th Session
Statement by the Delegation of the United States of America
As Delivered by Patrick Elliot, Human Rights Officer
The United States welcomes the High Commissioner’s work and Ukraine’s ongoing cooperation. We further welcome continued progress on rule of law reforms and protections for members of vulnerable minorities, including Roma and LGBTQI+ persons.
We note OHCHR’s reporting on arbitrary detention, torture, and ill-treatment in the context of the armed conflict in eastern Ukraine. This includes horrific reports of torture in unofficial detention centers in Russian-controlled areas of the Donbas, including the infamous “Izolyatsia” facility.
The United States condemns Russia’s occupation of Crimea and appreciates OHCHR’s reports of Russia’s abuses there, including arbitrary arrests, the use of torture to extract false confessions, and conscription of Crimean residents. We call for the release of deputy head of the Crimean Tatar Mejlis, Nariman Dzhelyal, and the more than 100 other Crimean political prisoners being unjustly held by Russia.
Our question is: The United States strongly welcomes Ukraine’s new Crimea Platform Initiative. How can it be used to improve human rights conditions in Crimea? Thank you.