The President of Lithuania calls for a resolute halt to the collapse of international order
Speaking at the High-Level Segment of the United Nations Human Rights Council on Monday, President Gitanas Nausėda emphasized that, as a result of the brutal aggression of Russia and Belarus in Ukraine, “the international rules-based order is breaking to pieces, with its shards threatening the world as we know it”.
According to the President, the war against Ukraine is a crime against humanity, the effects of which on the global human rights situation may be felt for decades to come. The international community’s indifference and appeasement to Russia have also contributed to the tragedy.
“This follows a well-trodden path, sadly. We have already seen earlier attacks on Georgia, Moldova and Ukraine. We witnessed Russian battle tanks paying homage to Iosif Stalin on their way to Tbilisi, and the little green men roaming city streets in Crimea and Donbass. The outcome? At first, a weak initial reaction, then cautious appeasement, and finally silent normalization,” the President said, stressing that it was now up to the international community to stop the aggressors, prevent further destabilization and help the victims of war.
“We must be resolute and quick, for such military conflict disrupts and destroys countless innocent lives,” Gitanas Nausėda noted.
In his speech, the President also called for active global action to ensure that no one is left behind, and no human right ignored. This requires close cooperation with human rights defenders and members of civil society, without tolerating any attempts by certain countries to “recreate the paralyzing climate of fear, widely used by the totalitarian regimes”.
The President underscored that it was necessary to fully respect and protect the freedom of assembly and association as well as the freedom of expression and the freedom of religion or belief and to fight against arbitrary closures of civil society organizations, show trials and other forms of persecution.
Gitanas Nausėda expressed his hope that Lithuania, which became a first-time full member of the United Nations Human Rights Council for the period 2022-2024, would make a significant contribution to the achievement of the organization’s objectives in the field of the protection of human rights.
The President‘s Communication Group
