In framework of permanent cooperation with UN structures and agencies our Association sent in the eve of 2025 written contributions for the UN Committee on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights for the draft general comment on such Rights and the Environmental Dimension of Sustainable Development.
In ARC’s contribution, published on official UN web-sources now, experts reminded that Russia-controlled troops committed in Ukraine, during broadscale invasion, gross violation of international humanitarian law and international human rights’ law already, including broad crimes against environment, attacks on forests, dams, national parks, riparian and maritime ecosystems, also as against Ukrainian agricultural enterprises.
Contribution stressed that war crimes, committed by Russian invaders during ongoing hostilities, are connected with Russia’s absolutely clear targets in maximal destruction of the civil infrastructure and environment, including objects, essential for all Ukrainian ethnic and social groups.
We reminded to UN Committee that negative climate changes are not the side effect of Russian aggression against Ukraine, but it is one of the Kremlin’s major goals. ARC’s contribution reminded the UN Committee on next challenges for the issue of sustainable development, including growth of poverty, caused by destruction of the dam of Kakhovka HPP by Russian military units in June, 2023. Also our contribution stressed on risks for sustainable development from the fuel oil catastrophe that occurred in December, 2024 south of the Kerch Strait with the Russian tankers “Volgoneft-212” and “Volgoneft-239”.
Contribution added that Russian central authorities, military structures, illegal “governments” in Crimea disseminate system of fakes regarding events with destruction the Kakhovka HPP and catastrophe with Russian tankers “Volgoneft-212” and “Volgoneft-239” , all their reaction on those events was not effective. Moreover, our contribution pointed out that all the systems of the agrarian sector in modern Crimea are totally ineffective and caused broadscale growth of prices on basic food products.
So, regarding the draft of the UN Committee’s general comment, our contribution added that Draft’s issues of “progressive realization”, and of “effective and appropriate international response”, must reflect the challenges of international conflicts, aggression, foreign occupation, attempted annexation, and relevant demands of international criminal and humanitarian law.
Contribution stressed also, that challenges of climate change, deforestation, pollution, unsustainable development and biodiversity loss, mentioned as “serious threats to Indigenous Peoples”, also as “environmental changes affecting fisherfolk”, mentioned in Draft, must also take into account the relevant demands of international criminal and humanitarian law, as current negative examples of conflict zone in the Crimea an adjacent maritime waters show.
Also, our Association stressed, regarding aspects of remedies and accountability, mentioned in points 94-100 of Draft, in part of judicial remedies for disadvantaged groups, such as local and indigenous communities, in conditions of climate change, biodiversity loss and pollution, next general comment must reflect the aspects of determining the volume of damage to such groups, including relevant forensic and other expert methodic development and development of national and international court practice also.
