{"id":2079,"date":"2023-12-05T14:23:51","date_gmt":"2023-12-05T12:23:51","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/hrhcrimea.org.ua\/olha-skrypnyk-on-hrds-recommendations-for-the-upcoming-un-resolution-on-crimea\/"},"modified":"2023-12-05T14:23:51","modified_gmt":"2023-12-05T12:23:51","slug":"olha-skrypnyk-on-hrds-recommendations-for-the-upcoming-un-resolution-on-crimea","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/hrhcrimea.org.ua\/en\/olha-skrypnyk-on-hrds-recommendations-for-the-upcoming-un-resolution-on-crimea\/","title":{"rendered":"Olha Skrypnyk on HRDs recommendations for the upcoming UN Resolution on Crimea"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

In December 2023, the UN General Assembly will vote for the eighth resolution on the situation of human rights in the temporarily occupied Autonomous Republic of Crimea and the city of Sevastopol. Human Rights House Crimea (HRH Crimea) member organisations have submitted recommendations to the resolution. This year, their emphasis is on new trends emerging amid the full-scale Russian aggression. In this interview originally published by HRH Crimea, Olha Skrypnyk, head of the Crimean Human Rights Group and co-coordinator of the Expert Network of the Crimean Platform, gives insight into these proposals and highlights the significance of this resolution and international advocacy efforts.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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This year, we are witnessing specific negative trends and certain essential points that should be incorporated into this year\u2019s Resolution… For us, human rights defenders working with Crimea, this is perhaps the most practical mechanism. Its primary outcomes should be the Secretary-General\u2019s report on Crimea presented at the UN General Assembly, increasing or, at the very least, maintaining the level of support from countries through voting.<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n

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Crimean children have become a resource for Russian military mobilisation<\/h5>\n\n\n\n

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Photo from Almenda Center for Civic Education<\/a>\u2019s monitoring report \u201cUniversal soldier \u2013 Education as a tool for Russia in the occupied south of Ukraine.\u201d Crimea, August 2023.<\/sup><\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n

One of the critical issues highlighted this year is the militarisation of Crimea and its impact on human rights. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

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\u201cThis year\u2019s proposals address changes and the worsening situation after a full-scale invasion. Specifically, they pertain to the militarization of the region, which extends beyond the establishment of a military base.\u201d <\/p>\n\n\n\n

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\u201cCrimea has transformed into a source of mobilisation resources, utilising Crimean residents as human resources for military purposes. This leads to numerous human rights violations. We stress that the militarisation of children, in particular, involves turning teenagers, aged 16-17, into a reserve force to potentially replenish the frontlines in the event of further war conflict.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Political persecutions and new pre-trial detention centres for kidnapped Ukrainians established in Crimea<\/h5>\n\n\n\n

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Pre-trial detention centre No. 2, opened in Simferopol in October 2022. Photo: RFE\/RL

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Skrypnyk highlights political persecution and the creation of new pre-trial detention centres in Crimea as other critical concerns. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

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\u201cWe recommend addressing the situation of political persecution in Crimea, which remains under Russian occupation and continues to evolve into a \u2018prison\u2019. We are aware of the establishment of pre-trial detention centres No. 2 and No. 8 specifically for individuals abducted from the southern regions of Ukraine, including Zaporizhzhia and Kherson. Hundreds of citizens from the newly occupied territories have been detained. We believe that this should be a focal point in the new Resolution set for adoption this year.”<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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\u201cThis year, we also emphasise the tragic consequences of the lack of an appropriate response to the ongoing crimes of Russia \u2013 namely, the failure to provide medical care to political prisoners. Already this year, it led to the deaths of Dzhemil Hafarov and Kostiantyn Shyring, who have already died due to the deliberate failure to provide them with medical assistance.\u201d <\/p>\n\n\n\n

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\u201cThis practice is spreading even now \u2013 as dozens of political prisoners are under threat of death. We believe that the deliberate non-provision of medical aid, which has already led to deaths, should be highlighted separately in the Resolution demanding that Russia provide access to places of detention for our citizens and generally stop this practice and release political prisoners. First of all, this applies to those who need urgent medical assistance<\/a>.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Cover illustration from Human Rights Centre ZMINA\u2019s report <\/a>on political prisoners in need of urgent medical care. From left to right: Amet Suleymanov,<\/a> Dzhemil Hafarov, Iryna Danylovych<\/a>, Kostiantyn Shyring, Azamat Eyupov.<\/sup><\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n

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Skrypnyk\u2019s organisation, Crimean Human Rights Group, reports that there are currently at least 180 Crimean political prisoners: \u201cWe possess detailed information about their cases and the names of the so-called judges. Furthermore, we have verified at least 70 politically motivated cases against Ukrainians who were deported from the occupied southern territories of Ukraine, many of whom are currently in the Simferopol detention facility or have already been deported from there to the Russian Federation.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Advocacy at the international level is key<\/h5>\n\n\n\n

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The thematic resolution addressing Crimea was first voted and adopted in 2016.  Among others, according to Skrypnyk, this is thanks to the advocacy efforts of human rights organisations in collaboration with the Human Rights House Foundation (HRHF). The text of last year\u2019s resolution, to which human rights defenders also submitted proposals, can be found here<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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 \u201cOur advocacy at the UN and Council of Europe levels is happening thanks to our partnership with Human Rights House Foundation. While our recommendations for the Resolution could remain mere text, at best supported by the Ukrainian government, it is crucial for us, as human rights defenders, to advance our cause independently through human rights organisations.\u201d <\/p>\n\n\n\n

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\u201cThus, the advocacy aspect of these proposals holds paramount importance. Today, Ukrainian human rights defenders play a key role in advocating for improvements in the international justice system through prosecution. Our collaboration with HRHF in international advocacy remains pivotal.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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We're advocating in the UN Headquarters, NYC & various delegations with an amazing group of women HRDs bringing under public limelight the crackdown on human rights in #Crimea<\/a> with @RchrSev<\/a> @zminaUkraine<\/a> @CCE_Almenda<\/a> @HRH_Crimea<\/a> @UGSPL<\/a> crimean human rights group @HRHFoundation<\/a> pic.twitter.com\/63kZXaiYcy<\/a><\/p>— Maria Kurinna (@KurinnaMarie) June 5, 2023<\/a><\/blockquote>