The U.N. Human Rights Council session in Geneva, which gets underway on Monday, will feature more than 100 head of state and minister participants. Topics up for discussion include China’s treatment of its Muslim minority and Russia’s alleged war crimes in Ukraine.
Many states will work to extend the authority of a U.N. investigation body established to look into atrocities in Ukraine. During the session, which begins on Monday and lasts until April 4.
In order to ensure that Russia is held accountable for its crimes. Kyiv has proposed for the creation of a special court to try the political and military elites of Russia for the invasion.
According to us, the wording should be significantly strengthened while also being technically extended. Yevheniia Filipenko, Ukraine’s permanent representative to the UN office in Geneva, said reporters on Friday.
The presence of Sergei Ryabkov, the deputy foreign minister of Russia, who will speak to the council on Thursday, has angered Kyiv and its allies.
Since the start of the war a year ago, no Russian representative from Moscow has attended in person. Russia was expelled from the council in April over the invasion, but it is still permitted to participate as an observer.
Russia denies committing war crimes or deliberately targeting civilians in Ukraine.
After staging a walkout from Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov’s speech to the council last year over Moscow’s invasion of Ukraine.
Western diplomats have been quiet about their response to Ryabkov’s visit. Without providing further details, Filipenko stated that Ukraine did not appreciate Russia’s presence and would “respond accordingly.”
To safeguard human rights around the world, only the Geneva-based U.N. human rights council is composed of governments. It lacks the authority to impose laws, but discussions it sparks can lead to investigations. However, that provide evidence to domestic and international tribunals.
Hossein Amirabdollahian of Iran, Annalena Baerbock of Germany. And Felix Tshisekedi of the Democratic Republic of the Congo are among the other high-ranking foreign ministers scheduled to attend its most recent session.
Countries will also be paying close attention to how Volker Turk, the U.N. High Commissioner for Human Rights since October, speaks of China. After some rights organisations accused his predecessor Michelle Bachelet of being too lenient towards Beijing.
According to a U.N. report from the previous year, China’s detention of Uyghurs and other Muslims may amount to crimes against humanity. Beijing disputes any wrongdoing.
Following the failure of a Western-led attempt to convene a debate on China’s treatment of its Muslim minorities last year. The council is not anticipated to pursue a motion regarding China this time around.
The United States will “continue to cast a spotlight” on China. According to Michele Taylor, ambassador of the United States to the Council, and Washington is currently discussing how to achieve this.
