Fighting Escalation Noted In Eastern Ukraine Despite Ceasefire Agreement

A United Nations Human Rights Office report on Ukraine estimated that the death toll in the east of the country had crossed the 6,000 mark. The Office's ninth report on this European noted an escalation of fighting despite a ceasefire agreement.

Addressing the press during the release of the report, the Assistant Secretary-General for the United Nations Human Rights Office Ivan Šimonović gave an overview of the human rights challenges in Ukraine.

He noted that since our last report, there has been a stark escalation in hostilities, especially in January and the first half of February, leading to increased violations of international human rights law and international humanitarian law, with devastating consequences for the local population.

The report noted that both sides of the conflict were using heavy and sophisticated weaponry. It also highlighted increased indiscriminate shelling of highly populated civilian areas, both controlled by government and by the armed groups. The UN Human Rights Office warned that those acts may constitute a war crime.

Šimonović said "the deliberate targeting of civilian areas may constitute a war crime, and if widespread and systematic, crime against humanity."

In its report, the UN Human Rights Office expressed concern over the deteriorating conditions of civilians. It particularly highlighted the impact on internally displaced persons, which total more than one million registered people.

Šimonović called for the cessation of hostilities and the adherence to the ceasefire agreement.

The Office of the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights informed it would continue monitoring and reporting on the situation in Ukraine. The Office, in conjunction with the UN refugee Agency, held a pledging conference, seeking to raise 4 million dollars for humanitarian support to the east and south of the country.

SHOTLIST:
2 MARCH 2015, GENEVA, SWITZERLAND

Exterior, Palais des Nations
Šimonović at podium
Photographer
Journalists
Reporter writing
Journalist
TV camera
Šimonović after press conference

SOUNDBITE (English) Ivan Šimonović, Assistant Secretary-General for Human Rights: "From mid-April 2014 until 15 February 2015, at least 5,665 people were killed. Full reports on casualties, especially near Donetsk airport and in the Debaltseve area, are still pending. The OHCHR estimates that the total number of people killed in eastern Ukraine has now passed the 6,000 mark."

SOUNDBITE (English) Ivan Šimonović, Assistant Secretary-General for the United Nations Human Rights Office :
"The deliberate targeting of civilian areas may constitute a war crime, and if widespread and systematic, crime against humanity."

SOUNDBITE (English) Ivan Šimonović, Assistant Secretary-General for the United Nations Human Rights Office:
"The human rights situation in Ukraine remains grave. The most recent challenges include a series of terrorist attacks in Kharkiv and Odessa. There are fears or the resumption of hostilities and concerns of a military campaign on Mariupol. This could entail many more casualties, and significantly escalate the conflict and its internationalization."

SOUNDBITE (English) Ivan Šimonović, Assistant Secretary-General for the United Nations Human Rights Office:
"The peace talks in Minsk which resulted in a new ceasefire agreement on 15 February is a welcome development. I call on both sides to respect it because it is the only way out of crisis that is national, but also increasingly regional and global."

DURATION: 01:58