UKRAINE / TÜRK PRESSER
Preview Language:
Original
07-Dec-2022
00:04:44
Speaking to reporters at the end of his official visit to Ukraine, UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Volker Türk said, ”the scale of civilian casualties, as well as the significant damage and destruction to civilian objects - including hospitals and schools - is shocking.” OHCHR
Available Language: English
Type
Language
Format
Acquire
Description
STORY: UKRAINE / TÜRK IZIUM VISIT
TRT: 4:44
SOURCE: OHCHR
RESTRICTIONS: NONE
LANGUAGE: ENGLISH / NATS
DATELINE: 07 DECEMBER 2022, KYIV, UKRAINE / RECENT
SHOTLIST:
07 DECEMBER 2022, KYIV, UKRAINE
1. Med shot, HC briefing room
2. SOUNDBITE (English) Volker Türk, UN High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR):
“I have spoken to the families of prisoners of war who anxiously await news of their loved ones. I’ve listened to those who shared the pain of those whose children are on the frontline; heard about the particular plight of people with disabilities and older people who are unable to reach safe shelter when the air raid sirens go off. I visited the site of a shelled apartment block in Izium, Kharkiv Oblast, where more than 50 people were buried under the rubble. And in the rubble were the signs of lives cut short by acts of indiscriminate shelling.”
06 DECEMBER 2022, IZIUM, UKRAINE
3. Med shot, collapsed building in Izium
4. Close up, toy doll and collapsed building
07 DECEMBER 2022, KYIV, UKRAINE
5. SOUNDBITE (English) Volker Türk, UN High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR):
“Each day we receive information about war crimes. The scale of civilian casualties, as well as the significant damage and destruction to civilian objects - including hospitals and schools - is shocking, as I saw it yesterday for myself in Izium. During winter, this has horrible consequences for the most vulnerable. They are struggling with blackouts, with no heating or electricity, going on for days. And we have also information continues to emerge about summary executions, torture, arbitrary detention, enforced disappearances and sexual violence against women, girls and men. In relation to continuing reports of ill-treatment, torture and execution of prisoners of war, my Office issued a statement in mid-November raising serious concerns based on our findings. We will continue to follow this issue closely.”
6. Med shot, briefing room
7. SOUNDBITE (English) Volker Türk, UN High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR):
“The report documents the fate of 441 civilians in parts of three northern regions – Kyiv, Chernihiv and Sumy – that were under Russian control until early April. Bucha was the town hardest hit. We are working to corroborate allegations of additional killings in these regions, and in parts of Kharkiv and Kherson oblast [region] that were recently retaken by Ukrainian forces.”
8. Close up, cameras and cameramen
9. SOUNDBITE (English) Volker Türk, UN High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR):
“I urge justice for all victims, whoever they are, with respect for their dignity and humanity. The imperative for accountability is not altered by the affiliation of the victim or perpetrator. All allegations of violations of international humanitarian law and international human rights law – by whomever and wherever committed - must be promptly investigated and brought to justice, under a fair and independent legal process.”
10. Med shot, HC speaking
11. SOUNDBITE (English) Volker Türk, UN High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR):
“As one human rights defender whom I met this week said it is crucial for Ukraine to hold on tight to the values of a free society, grounded in respect for the rule of law and human rights, including the freedom of expression, the right to a fair trial, the freedom of religious belief, the right to social security – the whole host of civil, political, economic, social and cultural rights. And not lose them in the fog of war.”
05 DECEMBER 2022, KYIV, UKRAINE
12. Med shot, HR in underground shelter
07 DECEMBER 2022, KYIV, UKRAINE
13. SOUNDBITE (English) Volker Türk, UN High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR):
“Important for us, not least because of full responsibility, to have access to the occupied areas of Ukraine, from where we also continue to receive reports of violations. We have not had recent access but are continuing to seek it.”
14. Med shot, HR speaking
15. SOUNDBITE (English) Volker Türk, UN High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR):
“International humanitarian law is an important achievement of humanity and an obligation. My plea is to everyone engaged in hostilities to respect it fully, especially in the most difficult, most emotional circumstances. International humanitarian law is stronger than its violation by any State. A violation by one party does not legitimize violations by another.”
16. Med shot, HR speaking
STORYLINE:
UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Volker Türk on Thursday (07 Dec) held a press conference in Kyiv at the end of a four-day visit to Ukraine.
Speaking to journalists in Kyiv, Volker Türk said, “I have spoken to the families of prisoners of war who anxiously await news of their loved ones. I’ve listened to those who shared the pain of those whose children are on the frontline; heard about the particular plight of people with disabilities and older people who are unable to reach safe shelter when the air raid sirens go off.”
He also commented, “I visited the site of a shelled apartment block in Izium, Kharkiv Oblast, where more than 50 people were buried under the rubble.”
“And in the rubble were the signs of lives cut short by acts of indiscriminate shelling,” Türk said.
On Monday (05 Dec), the High Commissioner had to meet human rights defenders in an underground shelter on Monday as at least 70 missiles were launched across Ukraine, again striking essential infrastructure and knocking out power.
Some 17.7 million people in Ukraine need humanitarian assistance and 9.3 million require food and livelihood assistance. A third of the population has been forced to flee their homes. Some 7.89 million have fled the country, the majority of whom are women and children, and 6.5 million people are internally displaced.
Türk said he feared that there was a long, bleak winter ahead for Ukraine. The consequences of the war on the enjoyment of human rights for people in the country have already been devastating, and the prognosis was very worrying.
According to Türk, “each day we receive information about war crimes.”
“The scale of civilian casualties, as well as the significant damage and destruction to civilian objects - including hospitals and schools - is shocking, as I saw for myself in Izium. During winter, this has horrible consequences for the most vulnerable. They are struggling with blackouts, with no heating or electricity, going on for hours,” he said.
Information continues to emerge about summary executions, torture, arbitrary detention, enforced disappearances and sexual violence against women, girls and men, the High Commissioner noted.
During his visit on Monday (05 Dec) to Bucha, north of Kyiv, he saw the visible trail of destruction following the Russian forces’ departure from the town in March. Bullet holes on the walls of houses. The town was retaken by Ukrainian forces within less than four weeks, but – six months on – the trauma of so many who lived, terrified, through that period, and others who lost loved ones, remains palpable.
Also on Wednesday (07 Dec), the UN Human Rights Monitoring Mission issued a report detailing how Russian troops killed civilians in Ukrainian towns and villages across the Kyiv, Chernihiv and Sumy regions of Ukraine from 24 February until 6 April 2022.
Türk said, “the report documents the fate of 441 civilians in parts of three northern regions – Kyiv, Chernihiv and Sumy – that were under Russian control until early April. Bucha was the town hardest hit. We are working to corroborate allegations of additional killings in these regions, and in parts of Kharkiv and Kherson regions that were recently retaken by Ukrainian forces.”
Türk continued, “I urge justice for all victims, whoever they are, with respect for their dignity and humanity. The imperative for accountability is not altered by the affiliation of the victim or perpetrator.”
“All allegations of violations of international humanitarian law and international human rights law – by whomever and wherever committed - must be promptly investigated and brought to justice, under a fair and independent legal process,” Türk said.
The UN High Commissioner added, “As one human rights defender I met this week said it is crucial for Ukraine to hold on tight to the values of a free society, grounded in respect for the rule of law and human rights, including the freedom of expression, the right to a fair trial, the freedom of religious belief, the right to social security – the whole host of civil, political, economic, social and cultural rights. And not lose them in the fog of war.”
The UN Human Rights Monitoring Mission has been in Ukraine since 2014 – documenting and reporting, with their work including the monitoring and reporting on all violations committed on the territory of Ukraine, irrespective of the perpetrator.
He mentioned that it is important to have access to the occupied areas of Ukraine, “from where we also continue to receive reports of violations”.
“We have not had recent access, but continue to seek it,” the High Commissioner said.
He also told reporters, “International humanitarian law is an important achievement of humanity and an obligation. My plea is to everyone engaged in hostilities to respect it fully, especially in the most difficult, most emotional circumstances. International humanitarian law is stronger than its violation by any State. A violation by one party does not legitimize violations by another.”
TRT: 4:44
SOURCE: OHCHR
RESTRICTIONS: NONE
LANGUAGE: ENGLISH / NATS
DATELINE: 07 DECEMBER 2022, KYIV, UKRAINE / RECENT
SHOTLIST:
07 DECEMBER 2022, KYIV, UKRAINE
1. Med shot, HC briefing room
2. SOUNDBITE (English) Volker Türk, UN High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR):
“I have spoken to the families of prisoners of war who anxiously await news of their loved ones. I’ve listened to those who shared the pain of those whose children are on the frontline; heard about the particular plight of people with disabilities and older people who are unable to reach safe shelter when the air raid sirens go off. I visited the site of a shelled apartment block in Izium, Kharkiv Oblast, where more than 50 people were buried under the rubble. And in the rubble were the signs of lives cut short by acts of indiscriminate shelling.”
06 DECEMBER 2022, IZIUM, UKRAINE
3. Med shot, collapsed building in Izium
4. Close up, toy doll and collapsed building
07 DECEMBER 2022, KYIV, UKRAINE
5. SOUNDBITE (English) Volker Türk, UN High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR):
“Each day we receive information about war crimes. The scale of civilian casualties, as well as the significant damage and destruction to civilian objects - including hospitals and schools - is shocking, as I saw it yesterday for myself in Izium. During winter, this has horrible consequences for the most vulnerable. They are struggling with blackouts, with no heating or electricity, going on for days. And we have also information continues to emerge about summary executions, torture, arbitrary detention, enforced disappearances and sexual violence against women, girls and men. In relation to continuing reports of ill-treatment, torture and execution of prisoners of war, my Office issued a statement in mid-November raising serious concerns based on our findings. We will continue to follow this issue closely.”
6. Med shot, briefing room
7. SOUNDBITE (English) Volker Türk, UN High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR):
“The report documents the fate of 441 civilians in parts of three northern regions – Kyiv, Chernihiv and Sumy – that were under Russian control until early April. Bucha was the town hardest hit. We are working to corroborate allegations of additional killings in these regions, and in parts of Kharkiv and Kherson oblast [region] that were recently retaken by Ukrainian forces.”
8. Close up, cameras and cameramen
9. SOUNDBITE (English) Volker Türk, UN High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR):
“I urge justice for all victims, whoever they are, with respect for their dignity and humanity. The imperative for accountability is not altered by the affiliation of the victim or perpetrator. All allegations of violations of international humanitarian law and international human rights law – by whomever and wherever committed - must be promptly investigated and brought to justice, under a fair and independent legal process.”
10. Med shot, HC speaking
11. SOUNDBITE (English) Volker Türk, UN High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR):
“As one human rights defender whom I met this week said it is crucial for Ukraine to hold on tight to the values of a free society, grounded in respect for the rule of law and human rights, including the freedom of expression, the right to a fair trial, the freedom of religious belief, the right to social security – the whole host of civil, political, economic, social and cultural rights. And not lose them in the fog of war.”
05 DECEMBER 2022, KYIV, UKRAINE
12. Med shot, HR in underground shelter
07 DECEMBER 2022, KYIV, UKRAINE
13. SOUNDBITE (English) Volker Türk, UN High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR):
“Important for us, not least because of full responsibility, to have access to the occupied areas of Ukraine, from where we also continue to receive reports of violations. We have not had recent access but are continuing to seek it.”
14. Med shot, HR speaking
15. SOUNDBITE (English) Volker Türk, UN High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR):
“International humanitarian law is an important achievement of humanity and an obligation. My plea is to everyone engaged in hostilities to respect it fully, especially in the most difficult, most emotional circumstances. International humanitarian law is stronger than its violation by any State. A violation by one party does not legitimize violations by another.”
16. Med shot, HR speaking
STORYLINE:
UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Volker Türk on Thursday (07 Dec) held a press conference in Kyiv at the end of a four-day visit to Ukraine.
Speaking to journalists in Kyiv, Volker Türk said, “I have spoken to the families of prisoners of war who anxiously await news of their loved ones. I’ve listened to those who shared the pain of those whose children are on the frontline; heard about the particular plight of people with disabilities and older people who are unable to reach safe shelter when the air raid sirens go off.”
He also commented, “I visited the site of a shelled apartment block in Izium, Kharkiv Oblast, where more than 50 people were buried under the rubble.”
“And in the rubble were the signs of lives cut short by acts of indiscriminate shelling,” Türk said.
On Monday (05 Dec), the High Commissioner had to meet human rights defenders in an underground shelter on Monday as at least 70 missiles were launched across Ukraine, again striking essential infrastructure and knocking out power.
Some 17.7 million people in Ukraine need humanitarian assistance and 9.3 million require food and livelihood assistance. A third of the population has been forced to flee their homes. Some 7.89 million have fled the country, the majority of whom are women and children, and 6.5 million people are internally displaced.
Türk said he feared that there was a long, bleak winter ahead for Ukraine. The consequences of the war on the enjoyment of human rights for people in the country have already been devastating, and the prognosis was very worrying.
According to Türk, “each day we receive information about war crimes.”
“The scale of civilian casualties, as well as the significant damage and destruction to civilian objects - including hospitals and schools - is shocking, as I saw for myself in Izium. During winter, this has horrible consequences for the most vulnerable. They are struggling with blackouts, with no heating or electricity, going on for hours,” he said.
Information continues to emerge about summary executions, torture, arbitrary detention, enforced disappearances and sexual violence against women, girls and men, the High Commissioner noted.
During his visit on Monday (05 Dec) to Bucha, north of Kyiv, he saw the visible trail of destruction following the Russian forces’ departure from the town in March. Bullet holes on the walls of houses. The town was retaken by Ukrainian forces within less than four weeks, but – six months on – the trauma of so many who lived, terrified, through that period, and others who lost loved ones, remains palpable.
Also on Wednesday (07 Dec), the UN Human Rights Monitoring Mission issued a report detailing how Russian troops killed civilians in Ukrainian towns and villages across the Kyiv, Chernihiv and Sumy regions of Ukraine from 24 February until 6 April 2022.
Türk said, “the report documents the fate of 441 civilians in parts of three northern regions – Kyiv, Chernihiv and Sumy – that were under Russian control until early April. Bucha was the town hardest hit. We are working to corroborate allegations of additional killings in these regions, and in parts of Kharkiv and Kherson regions that were recently retaken by Ukrainian forces.”
Türk continued, “I urge justice for all victims, whoever they are, with respect for their dignity and humanity. The imperative for accountability is not altered by the affiliation of the victim or perpetrator.”
“All allegations of violations of international humanitarian law and international human rights law – by whomever and wherever committed - must be promptly investigated and brought to justice, under a fair and independent legal process,” Türk said.
The UN High Commissioner added, “As one human rights defender I met this week said it is crucial for Ukraine to hold on tight to the values of a free society, grounded in respect for the rule of law and human rights, including the freedom of expression, the right to a fair trial, the freedom of religious belief, the right to social security – the whole host of civil, political, economic, social and cultural rights. And not lose them in the fog of war.”
The UN Human Rights Monitoring Mission has been in Ukraine since 2014 – documenting and reporting, with their work including the monitoring and reporting on all violations committed on the territory of Ukraine, irrespective of the perpetrator.
He mentioned that it is important to have access to the occupied areas of Ukraine, “from where we also continue to receive reports of violations”.
“We have not had recent access, but continue to seek it,” the High Commissioner said.
He also told reporters, “International humanitarian law is an important achievement of humanity and an obligation. My plea is to everyone engaged in hostilities to respect it fully, especially in the most difficult, most emotional circumstances. International humanitarian law is stronger than its violation by any State. A violation by one party does not legitimize violations by another.”
Series
Category
Geographic Subjects
Corporate Subjects
Creator
OHCHR
Alternate Title
unifeed221207d
Asset ID
2991385