On 28 March, the High Commissioner for Human Rights updated the Human Rights Council on the situation in Ukraine. While welcoming the limited ceasefire in securing Black Sea shipping, Mr. Volker Türk emphasised the negative effects of the ongoing war, especially on children’s rights.

States expressed their condemnation for Russia’s violations of international humanitarian and human rights law, as well as violations of the rights of children.

An intervention was made by H.E. Jean-François Kammer, Deputy Permanent Observer at the Mission. Mr. Kammer spotlighted the efforts of the Order of Malta in humanitarian assistance in Ukraine and other countries hosting Ukrainian refugees. In addition, he expressed the Order’s hope that trust can be re-established with the assistance of the international community, noting that trust is a necessary precondition to sustainable peace.