On February 28, the Chinese administration joined Russia by voting against the United Nations’ highest human rights group, which is urgently discussing Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. The Kyiv envoy demanded an urgent debate on Thursday, arguing that some of Moscow’s military actions “may correspond to war crimes.”
But Ukraine’s request is Accepted Following the UN Human Rights Council’s vote of 29 in favor, 5 against, and 13 abstentions. The council has only held six such urgent debates so far.
“Russian troops have specifically targeted kindergartens, orphanages, hospitals and mobile medical aid units to perform acts that could lead to war crimes,” said Yehuhenia Filipenko, UN Ambassador to Geneva, Ukraine. I’m trying to panic the people. “
“It was not just an attack on Ukraine, but an attack on all UN member states, the United Nations, and the principles created to protect this organization,” Filipenko said in his opening speech on Monday.
China, which refused to call Moscow’s attack on Ukraine an invasion by the ruling Communist Party, voted against Russia, Cuba, Eritria and Venezuela.
Opponents in Beijing came after abstaining from a UN Security Council resolution condemning Moscow’s invasion of Ukraine on Friday. The draft was rejected by Russia.
The White House called on Beijing to publicly condemn Russia’s invasion, but the Chinese government repeatedly refused to condemn Moscow’s actions.
When asked if Beijing would remain neutral in the conflict between Russia and Ukraine, China’s Foreign Ministry spokesman Wang Wenbin said on Monday that the administration and Russia were “strategic partners in coordination.” Its position on Ukraine is “the problem itself.”
At least 102 civilians, including seven children, have been killed in Ukraine since Russia declared a “special military operation” five days ago, UN rights chief Michelle Bachelet said Monday.
She said more than 420,000 people had fled the country, citing official figures from the United Nations refugee agency.
The Ukrainian resolution will be considered in an urgent debate.
If adopted, a committee of three independent experts has alleged violations of international law in the Crimea, Donetsk, Luhansk region since 2014, and in other parts of Ukraine since the invasion of Russia last week. Investigate
The meeting will take place on March 3, after three days of speeches by officials from more than 140 countries, including China and Russia. The United Nations Supreme Rights Organization launched a five-week session each year on Monday.
Ruters contributed to this report.
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Dorothy Lee is a reporter for the Epoch Times, based in Europe.