UN Human Rights Council 49: UK statement under Item 2 General Debate
The UK's Global Ambassador for Human Rights, Rita French delivered the UK statement, noting human rights concerns in Russia, Cameroon, Zimbabwe, Uganda, Nicaragua, Vietnam and Ethiopia.
Thank you Mr President.
High Commissioner,
We thank you for your focus on Ukraine, on which this Council discussed its grave concerns last week. We have condemned Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, an unprovoked and premeditated attack against innocent people, and a clear violation of international law.
Elsewhere,
We remain concerned about human rights in Cameroon, including attacks on and restrictions to education. All actors should stop attacking and obstructing schools, children and teachers. We continue to urge impartial investigations to hold perpetrators of violations and abuses to account. We reiterate the need for a continued and broad dialogue.
In Zimbabwe, the harassment of the political opposition, restrictions on freedom of assembly, and constraints on civic space continue. We call on Zimbabwe to hold individuals responsible for human rights violations accountable and to ensure free and fair elections.
In Uganda, reports of the use of torture against individuals detained by security services are deeply troubling. The Government of Uganda must meet its international human rights obligations, respect democratic freedoms and hold those responsible to account.
We are increasingly concerned at political repression in Nicaragua, controls on free expression and peaceful assembly, and the arbitrary detention and politicised trials of people who opposed President Ortega in the contrived elections last November. We call on Nicaragua to respect its international obligations.
In Vietnam, the space for civil society and free expression, including online, continues to contract. We call on Vietnam to allow people to freely express their views, and for those imprisoned for doing so to be released.
Finally, as we will set out in more detail later this week, we continue to be deeply concerned by the conflict in the north of Ethiopia and the impact this is having on human rights.