HRC55: Denmark adresses Russia, Belarus, Israel/oPt, China, Myanmar, Mali, Burkina Faso, Iran, Afghanistan, and Bahrain under item 4 General Debate.
UNITED NATIONS HUMAN RIGHTS COUNCIL
55th Session
Item 4 – General Debate
Intervention by Denmark
[Check against delivery]
Mister President,
We condemn in the strongest possible terms Russia’s continued full-scale illegal invasion of Ukraine. Denmark supports full accountability for Russia’s unlawful war of aggression. All alleged violations of international law must be investigated, including human rights, war crimes or crimes against humanity.
The death of Russian opposition politician Alexei Navalny, for which the ultimate responsibility lies with the Russian state demonstrates the deteriorating human rights situation in Russia. We call on Russia to comply with its national and international obligations in this regard as well as immediately and unconditionally release all political prisoners.
We strongly condemn the Belarusian regime’s increasing and unprecedented level of repression, human rights violations, restrictions to political participation and independent media, which underlines that the elections held in Belarus on 25 February 2024 did not meet the criteria for free and fair elections.
We are deeply concerned about the desperate humanitarian situation in Gaza and reiterate Israel’s obligations to ensure the protection of civilians and to allow for unhindered humanitarian aid. We condemn the heinous terrorist attack by Hamas on Israel on 7 October. Finally, we are deeply concerned by the escalation of violence in the West Bank, including by Israel settlers, as well as the recent Israeli plans for increased settlements that run counter to the prospects of a two-state solution.
Denmark remains concerned over human rights in China and calls on China to accept our recent UPR recommendations, including on Xinjiang, Tibet and Hong Kong, freedom of expression and cultural rights.
Denmark condemns in the strongest possible terms the grave human rights violations being committed by the Myanmar military, including extrajudicial killings, sexual and gender based violence, torture, indiscriminate violence against civilians amounting to war crimes and potentially crimes against humanity.
Denmark is alarmed by the deteriorating human rights situation in Mali and Burkina Faso. Reports of violence and civilian loss are of deep concern. We call upon all parties to prioritize the protection of civilians and for the state to ensure accountability for human rights violations and abuses, including sexual and gender based violence.
On Iran, we remain deeply concerned about the dire human rights situation. We urge Iran to put a halt on executions, release arbitrarily detained and respect the human rights of all Iranians, including women and girls.
We are deeply concerned with the deteriorating human rights situation in Afghanistan. We strongly condemn the Taliban regime’s severe restrictions on women and girls, which may amount to gender persecution.
We continue to call for the release of arbitrarily detained persons in Bahrain, including Mr. Al-Khawaja, without further delay.
We align with the EU statement.
55th Session
Item 4 – General Debate
Intervention by Denmark
[Check against delivery]
Mister President,
We condemn in the strongest possible terms Russia’s continued full-scale illegal invasion of Ukraine. Denmark supports full accountability for Russia’s unlawful war of aggression. All alleged violations of international law must be investigated, including human rights, war crimes or crimes against humanity.
The death of Russian opposition politician Alexei Navalny, for which the ultimate responsibility lies with the Russian state demonstrates the deteriorating human rights situation in Russia. We call on Russia to comply with its national and international obligations in this regard as well as immediately and unconditionally release all political prisoners.
We strongly condemn the Belarusian regime’s increasing and unprecedented level of repression, human rights violations, restrictions to political participation and independent media, which underlines that the elections held in Belarus on 25 February 2024 did not meet the criteria for free and fair elections.
We are deeply concerned about the desperate humanitarian situation in Gaza and reiterate Israel’s obligations to ensure the protection of civilians and to allow for unhindered humanitarian aid. We condemn the heinous terrorist attack by Hamas on Israel on 7 October. Finally, we are deeply concerned by the escalation of violence in the West Bank, including by Israel settlers, as well as the recent Israeli plans for increased settlements that run counter to the prospects of a two-state solution.
Denmark remains concerned over human rights in China and calls on China to accept our recent UPR recommendations, including on Xinjiang, Tibet and Hong Kong, freedom of expression and cultural rights.
Denmark condemns in the strongest possible terms the grave human rights violations being committed by the Myanmar military, including extrajudicial killings, sexual and gender based violence, torture, indiscriminate violence against civilians amounting to war crimes and potentially crimes against humanity.
Denmark is alarmed by the deteriorating human rights situation in Mali and Burkina Faso. Reports of violence and civilian loss are of deep concern. We call upon all parties to prioritize the protection of civilians and for the state to ensure accountability for human rights violations and abuses, including sexual and gender based violence.
On Iran, we remain deeply concerned about the dire human rights situation. We urge Iran to put a halt on executions, release arbitrarily detained and respect the human rights of all Iranians, including women and girls.
We are deeply concerned with the deteriorating human rights situation in Afghanistan. We strongly condemn the Taliban regime’s severe restrictions on women and girls, which may amount to gender persecution.
We continue to call for the release of arbitrarily detained persons in Bahrain, including Mr. Al-Khawaja, without further delay.
We align with the EU statement.