Statement of Lithuania at the Interactive dialogue on the annual report of the High Commissioner
14 June 2022, 50th session of the Human Rights Council Item 2: Interactive dialogue on tha annual report of the High Commissioner Delivered by H.E. Ambassador Darius Staniulis, Permanent Representative of Lithuania in Geneva
Lithuania fully aligns itself with the EU statement.
Madam High Commissioner, Lithuania is grateful for the Annual Report and for all of Your efforts to protect and promote human rights worldwide.
We condemn in the strongest possible terms gross human rights violations and war crimes committed by Russia in Ukraine. Accountability is the key to stop them. We support all international accountability efforts and will seek that perpetrators be brought to justice. Moreover, Russia is solely responsible for the food crisis and as one of the steps we urge Russia to stop the blockade of Ukraine’s ports.
The increasing systematic crackdown on democracy, the rule of law and human rights in the Russian Federation is alarming, in particular the full-scale repressions against independent civil society and journalists. Lithuania calls for increased scrutiny. In this regard, we see a need for the establishment of an independent monitoring and reporting mechanism on Russia.
We share your concerns about the continued deterioration of the human rights situation in Belarus. The increasing number of political prisoners, narrowing of civic space, closure of education possibilities in national minorities’ languages and other human rights violations in Belarus require the continued Council's attention.
On China, we call for the report on the human rights situation in Xinjiang to be released as soon as possible.
In Afghanistan the human rights situation is increasingly worsening, especially of ethnic and religious minorities, women and girls. Afghan women and girls, like all Afghans, deserve to enjoy equal access to freedom of movement, education and fulfilment of all their human rights.
Thank you.
