Submission to the UN Human Rights Committee

About

The project focused on analytical activities related to victims of the armed conflict in Ukraine, the protection of their rights, and the presentation of evidence of war crimes committed against them at both national and international levels.

As part of the project, ULAG continued work on preparing a submission to the UN Human Rights Committee regarding the deportation of three children from one family from Mariupol, Donetsk region, to the territory of the Russian Federation. In addition to the violations against the children, the case also addresses abuses committed against their father during filtration, which occurred as he attempted to leave Russian-occupied territory with the children.

Key results

• The legal position for submission to the UN Human Rights Committee regarding the forced deportation of children was further developed (Articles 12, 17, 23, 24, 26 of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights).
• A factual summary of the case concerning violations of children's rights—specifically, the deportation of three children from one family from Mariupol, Donetsk region, to the territory of the Russian Federation—was prepared and refined.
• A separate factual summary was also developed and refined concerning violations committed against civilians, including the application of filtration measures, the unlawful arrest of adult family members, and their subsequent separation from their children (Articles 7, 9, 12, 17, 23, 24, 26 of the Covenant).
• In cooperation with colleagues from EHRAC, the sections related to jurisdiction were revised, and annexes to the submission were prepared.
• Additionally, the legal position developed in this case will be used for a complaint regarding the forcible transfer of six children from Kherson region. As part of this work, powers of attorney were signed by the child applicants authorising legal representation by ULAG lawyers and EHRAC experts. Relevant materials from criminal proceedings currently underway in Ukraine regarding the forcible transfer of children (under Article 438 “War Crimes” of the Criminal Code of Ukraine) were also reviewed.