GENEVA, MARCH 30 – Italy’s “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” was voiced today by The Permanent Representative of Italy to the United Nations and other International Organizations in Geneva, Ambassador Gian Lorenzo Cornado, who took the floor 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.
Ambassador Cornado recalled 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. (@OnuItalia)
