The Permanent Representative of Italy to the United Nations and other International Organizations in Geneva, Ambassador Gian Lorenzo Cornado, took the floor today during the Interactive dialogue on the High Commissioner’s oral update on Ukraine, in the framework of the 49th session of the Human Rights Council.
“Italy expresses its deep concern for the grave deterioration of the human rights situation in Ukraine and the humanitarian catastrophe caused by the unjustified and unprovoked military aggression by the Russian Federation”, Ambassador Cornado stated, recalling that the number of civilian casualties, including children, is increasing every day and that millions of persons were already forced to flee their homes. He also added that Italy is “particularly concerned by the large-scale destruction and damage of civilian infrastructures, including medical and education facilities, the number of journalists and media workers killed and injured since the start of the conflict and the reports of alleged sexual and gender based violence against women and girls”.
Furthermore Ambassador Cornado underlined that Italy strongly supports all measures to ensure full accountability for human rights violations as well as violations of international humanitarian law occurring in Ukraine and welcomes in this regard the initiatives taken by the Human Rights Council, the OSCE and the ICC.
“Italy renews its call on Russia to fully abide by its obligations under international law, immediately cease all military actions and ensure safe corridors for the evacuation of civilians from conflict-affected areas as well as full, safe and unhindered access to humanitarian assistance”, concluded Ambassador Cornado, reaffirming once again Italy’s full solidarity with Ukraine and its people.
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FULL STATEMENT
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49th session of the Human Rights Council
Interactive dialogue on High Commissioner’s oral update on Ukraine
30 March 2022
Statement delivered by Ambassador Gian Lorenzo Cornado,
Permanent Representative of Italy to the United Nations in Geneva
Madam High Commissioner, Mister President,
Italy aligns itself with the statement delivered by the European Union and expresses its deep concern for the grave deterioration of the human rights situation in Ukraine and the humanitarian catastrophe caused by the unjustified and unprovoked military aggression by the Russian Federation.
As documented also by the OHCHR and by the UN Human Rights Monitoring Mission in Ukraine, the war is resulting in tragic loss of life and unbearable human suffering, with the number of civilian casualties, including children, increasing every day and the mass displacement of millions of persons already forced to flee their homes.
We are particularly concerned by the large-scale destruction and damage of civilian infrastructures, including medical and education facilities, the number of journalists and media workers killed and injured since the start of the conflict and the reports of alleged sexual and gender based violence against women and girls.
Italy strongly supports all measures to ensure full accountability for human rights violations as well as violations of international humanitarian law occurring in Ukraine, and welcomes, in this regard, the establishment of the Commission of Inquiry by the Human Rights Council, the invocation of the OSCE Moscow Mechanism as well as the investigation launched by the ICC.
Italy renews its call on Russia to fully abide by its obligations under international law, immediately cease all military actions and ensure safe corridors for the evacuation of civilians from conflict-affected areas as well as full, safe and unhindered access to humanitarian assistance.
In conclusion I wish to reaffirm once again Italy’s full solidarity with Ukraine and its people.
I thank you
