Ukraine: Italy in Geneva “appalled” by killing of civilians

GENEVA, DECEMBER 15 – “Italy is appalled by the information that continues to emerge of violations of human rights and international humanitarian law in Ukraine, including summary executions, torture, sexual violence and other horrendous attacks against civilians and civilian objects, which may amount to war crimes”, the Permanent Representative of Italy United Nations and other International Organizations in Geneva, Ambassador Gian Lorenzo Cornado, said today at the Human Rights Council.

Cornado took the floor during the interactive dialogue with the High Commissioner Volker Turk following his presentation on the findings of the OHCHR report on the situation of human rights in Ukraine.

Ambassador Cornado underlined that the recent publication of the OHCHR report on the “Killings of civilians” highlights the importance of the activities carried out by the UN Human Rights Monitoring Mission in Ukraine, that Italy is supporting also through a financial contribution.

In his address to the Council, Turk charged Russian forces of killing at least 441 civilians in the early days of Moscow’s invasion of Ukraine. The actual number of victims in the Kyiv, Chernihiv and Sumy regions was likely to be much higher, OHCHR said in thereport looking into the invasion’s start on Feb. 24 until early April, when Russian forces withdrew from the three areas.

Cornado urged Russia to stop immediately its war of aggression and reiterated that those responsible for these atrocities must be held accountable, explaining that “there is no peace without justice and the full respect of Ukraine’s sovereignty, territorial integrity and independence”.

Ambassador Cornado then reaffirmed Italy’s support to Ukraine and its people, also by continuing to mobilise resources to meet the most urgent needs of the population and respond to the huge humanitarian crisis. He concluded his statement by calling on Russia to grant the OHCHR and other investigative and monitoring mechanisms access to all areas under its control, including to places of internment of prisoners of war. To read the full statement, click here. (@OnuItalia)