34 th Session of the Human Rights Council
Individual ID on the High Commissioner’s Oral Report on Ukraine
(22 March 2017)
Statement by Mr. Kansuke NAGAOKA
Minister, Permanent Mission of Japan in Geneva
Japan appreciates the OHCHR’s written and oral reports on the human rights situation in Ukraine.
Japan is concerned by restriction of freedom of movement of civilians in the conflict-affected regions of eastern Ukraine. Japan is also concerned by the OHCHR’s reports of widespread human rights violations, including sexual violence, in the eastern part of Ukraine and the Crimean Peninsula, in the absence of oversight on the part of the Ukrainian government.
Furthermore, according to the OHCHR’s report, there is a lack of assistance for victims of sexual violence and a need to ensure the presence of professional medical personnel with expert knowledge and technical expertise on the ground.
Japan acknowledges how important it is for the international community to continue to focus its attention on the human rights situation in both the eastern part of Ukraine and the Crimean Peninsula. Japan expects that international human rights standards will be upheld in these areas.
Japan urges all parties involved in hostilities in non-government-controlled areas of Donetsk and Luhansk, and the Crimean Peninsula, to provide OHCHR and other international monitors, free and unlimited access to these areas.
I thank you, Mr. President.
