Olena Zelenska: Ukraine is not just fighting the attacker – Ukraine is fighting for human rights

First Lady Olena Zelenska spoke at a special meeting of the United Nations on human rights violations in Ukraine due to Russian aggression.

It was attended by more than 600 representatives of UN member states, civil society organizations and the Ukrainian community. The meeting consisted of two key panels: on the violation of children’s rights and on the violation of the rights of prisoners of war.

Olena Zelenska began her video address to the participants with footage of Bakhmut being stormed by Russian troops and shelling of Ukrainian cities by Russian artillery and aviation.

„I want to show what human rights violations look like. Not on paper, but in reality. The daily reality of Ukraine after the Russian invasion. And you can see human rights violations yourself when you meet Ukrainian internally displaced persons in your countries every day. They have the right to be at home with their loved ones. Instead, Russia has deprived 6 million Ukrainians of their homes. And another 8 million have become displaced within their own country,” the First Lady said.

The President’s wife emphasized that there are human rights violations that are difficult for victims to even testify about. In particular, rape: The Office of the Prosecutor General of Ukraine is investigating more than 150 such crimes committed by Russian soldiers against Ukrainians.

Olena Zelenska also spoke about violations of the rights of Ukrainian children: 16 thousand young Ukrainians have been abducted and forcibly taken to Russia. They are handed over to Russian families and orphanages, and the memory of their origin is being erased.

„I think you will agree that all of us, regardless of country or nationality, have the right not to be killed in our own homes. However, Ukrainians are being killed in front of the whole world for already a year now. In their own cities, villages, apartments, hospitals. In theaters. That is why we are exercising another inalienable human right – the right to self-defense,” the First Lady emphasized.

She emphasized that violation of the rights of citizens of one country is an encroachment on the rights of citizens of other countries.

„Human rights are like air – they have no borders. Either everyone has them or no one has them. That is why we say that this year we are not just fighting the attacker. We are fighting for human rights. Common to the people in Bakhmut, Dnipro, Kyiv, Mariupol, and to everyone who is in this room or has joined online. We are fighting for what unites us: the right to life, freedom, the right not to be tortured and to live freely. Therefore, justice for Ukraine is justice for the whole world,” the President’s wife is convinced.

Olena Zelenska called on UN representatives to create a special tribunal for the crime of Russian aggression.

„It is needed to „reaffirm faith in fundamental human rights, in the dignity and worth of the human person, in the equal rights of men and women.” And these are not my words. This is a quote from the United Nations Charter, signed on June 26, 1945. After another terrible war. But they do sound so relevant today. Let’s listen to them. Let’s finally listen,” the First Lady summarized.

From February 22 to 24, a special event dedicated to the anniversary of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine is taking place at the UN headquarters in New York. This format was introduced for the first time. The representation of the Organization’s member states at the event is comparable to the meetings of the UN General Assembly, which traditionally takes place in the autumn.