Thank you Mr. President,

I deliver this statement on behalf of  Belgium, Luxembourg and my own country the Kingdom of the Netherlands. We align ourselves with the EU statement.

We thank the Deputy High Commissioner for her briefing. We are confronted again with the depth of despair and destruction that Russia is inflicting on the Ukrainian population. For some Ukrainians, this reality has persisted for more than twelve years, ever since Russia’s illegal annexation of Crimea. 

Russia has been working structurally in occupied territories to dismantle Ukrainian systems of governance, administration, judiciary, law enforcement and education. Imposing Russian systems instead, with the aim to silence opposition and dissent, and to suppress Ukrainian culture and identity, in violation of international humanitarian law. In this regard, we resolutely condemn the politically-motivated persecutions, arbitrary detentions, cases of torture, sexual violence, enforced disappearances, deportation of children and the forced passportisation and unlawful conscription and mobilization of Ukrainians into the Russian armed forces.

Russia’s war of aggression must end. We remain committed to supporting Ukraine’s path towards accountability and reaching a comprehensive, just and lasting peace. 

Deputy High Commissioner,

What can the international community do – with no access to the occupied territories – to support those people who continue to suffer from human rights violations, severe repression and persecution? 

Thank you.