WFUWO’s Main Representative Addresses UNOG on Russian State Forces’ Violent Actions in Ukraine

« We thank the Commission for its investigation and for its role in ensuring accountability for the gravest offenses under international law.

The atrocities, war crimes and crimes against humanity committed by Russian state forces bear clear markers of genocide. The Russian Federation is engaged in direct and public incitement to encourage genocidal acts, including the dissemination of narratives denying the Ukrainian identity, the dehumanization of Ukrainian people, and absurd calls for the “de-nazification” of Ukraine. It has systemically violated the prohibition of all five acts specified by the Genocide Convention with the intent to destroy the Ukrainian nation, at least in part. The evidence included: a widespread pattern of inflicting life conditions that threaten physical survival; mass executions and killings; various forms of torture and sexual violence, including rape and extreme brutalizing of women so as to inhibit desire for reproduction and prevent births; forcible disappearance of civilians and activists; state-orchestrated forcible transfer and deportation of large numbers of Ukrainian children from Ukraine to the Russian Federation with intent to destroy their Ukrainian identity. Each of these actions will have significant demographic ramifications. Together they demonstrate intent to physically destroy the Ukrainian nation.

The Russian Federation must be found responsible for all systematic breaches of the Genocide Convention. »