As we wrote in September, during the 78th Session of the UN Committee on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights, its experts raised concerns about rights violations in occupied Ukrainian territories, during the discussion about Russia’s periodical “report” on alleged “realization” of the UN Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights.
Previously, our Association sent to the UN Committee our observations on Russia’s gross human rights violations in the occupied Crimea, including the situation of ecologic catastrophe with the tankers “Volgoneft” and its negative impact on social and economic rights. Also, relevant submissions were sent to the UN Committee by the Centre of civil education “Almenda”, by the “Crimean Human Rights Group”, “Crimean Process” and “Human Rights Centre ZMINA”.
Now the Committee published relevant Concluding observations E/C.12/RUS/CO/7, where it predictably stated that Russia’s extractive activities make adverse impacts on the enjoyment of rights under the Covenant, and the companies under Russian jurisdiction “have been involved in activities abroad that have had serious adverse impacts on the enjoyment of economic, social and cultural rights,” which covers, inter alia, Russian “shadow” tanker fleet activities.
The Committee demanded from Russia “ensure that business entities, including their suppliers, are held accountable for violations of economic, social and cultural rights, paying particular attention to Indigenous Peoples’ rights, environmental impacts, and arbitrary expropriation”, and “ensure that victims of such violations have access to effective complaint mechanisms and affordable and effective remedies, including judicial remedies and adequate reparation.”
Also, the Committee stressed its concern that Russia’s continued reliance on natural gas and oil exports as major sources of revenue makes challenges in meeting its nationally determined contributions under the Paris Agreement.
Regarding the issues of Russian aggression against Ukraine per se, the Committee stressed concern about the seizure of private property and forced evictions of ethnic Ukrainians in areas under Russian effective control, demanding Russia “expeditiously investigate” those issues, return seized property to the victims, and pay adequate compensation.
Also, the Committee stressed its concern about reports that people in areas under Russia’s effective control continue to face severe restrictions in the realization of their right to take part in cultural life, including the right to use and teach languages, history, and culture.
The Committee stressed separate concern about the large-scale campaign to systematically erase Ukrainian history, culture, cultural identity, and language, rewriting historical curricula, and repressing local cultural symbols, as well as the general undermining of the linguistic identity of ethnic minorities in areas under Russia’s effective control.
The Committee demanded that Russia avoid involuntary cultural assimilation and ensure access to education in the native languages, including Ukrainian language, and uphold the right to cultural participation.
Next obviously ignorance by Russia of the described demands of the observations E/C.12/RUS/CO/7, which are obligatory for aggressor state at the international level, will be the subject of our Association’s next communication with the international bodies and civilized jurisdictions on issues of Russia’s genocidal attempts and illegal acts against climate, environment, maritime safety, and attacks against Ukrainian property and cultural identity.
