Human Rights Council Spring Session Completes Its Work
On 23 March, the 37th session of the Human Rights Council completed its work in Geneva. During the last week of the session’s proceedings, the Lithuanian Delegation took the floor three more times.
On 19 March, the Permanent Representative of Lithuania spoke at the adoption of the report of the Universal Periodic Review of Ukraine. Ukraine accepted a vast majority of the recommendations offered by other UN Members, including all those provided by Lithuania. Lithuania congratulated Ukraine and wished it success in the implementation of the accepted recommendations, in spite of the challenges stemming from Russia’s aggression against Ukraine.
On 21 March, the Lithuanian delegate took the floor in the HRC interactive dialogue with the Deputy High Commissioner on Human Rights, Ms. Kate Gilmore, who presented an update on the human rights situation in Ukraine for the period from mid-November to mid-February. Lithuania expressed concern about human rights violations being committed in the areas of Ukraine controlled by the Russia-backed armed separatists and in Crimea that is illegally annexed by Russia. De facto authorities were called upon to give the UN Human Rights Monitoring Mission in Ukraine unhindered access, so it can fully exercise its mandate in Donbas and Crimea. Lithuania used the occasion to reiterate its unwavering support to Ukraine’s sovereignty, independence and territorial integrity.
On 22 March, the Lithuanian Delegation spoke up in the HRC general debate on technical cooperation. Lithuania expressed support to the OHCHR activities in the area of technical support and capacity building and quoted cooperation with Georgia as a positive example. Lithuania stressed its concern regarding the ongoing grave violations of human rights in Georgia’s regions of Abkhazia and Tskhinvali that are controlled by Russia-backed armed separatists. Lithuania encouraged all HRC Members to support the resolution On Cooperation with Georgia tabled by the latter. Lithuania reiterated its support to Georgia’s independence, sovereignty and territorial integrity.
The 37th session of the HRC adopted 42 resolutions on various aspects of human rights, 24 of which were co-sponsored by Lithuania as HRC observer. During the session, 15 joint statements were made. Lithuania participated in 10 of them.
