50th Session of the Human Rights Council: Interactive dialogue on the annual report of the High Commissioner

Item 2 – Interactive dialogue on the annual report of the High Commissioner

14 June 2022

Statement by Iceland

Mr. President.

We thank the High Commissioner for her report.

We remain gravely concerned over the situation of human rights in the Russian Federation, including erosion of freedom of expression and peaceful assembly, systematic crackdown on civil society, political opposition and media, and use of disinformation contributing to Russia’s war against Ukraine. Human rights and fundamental freedoms must be respected, and perpetrators held to account.

In Belarus, we are deeply concerned of widespread and systematic violations that have been executed as an official policy, including the recently adopted law on death penalty, and attacks on civil society and widespread use of disinformation. We reiterate our call on Belarus to stop enabling the Russian aggression in Ukraine and to abide by its international obligations.

Mr. President,

We continue to be gravely concerned about the human rights situation in the Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region. We urge China to allow unfettered access to Xinjiang for independent observers and call for the High Commissioner to release her long-awaited report.

Finally, we condemn the severe regression in the recognition, protection and realization of the rights of women and girls in Afghanistan. We call on the Taliban, and all other parties, to live up to their promises, and to their obligations under international law.

I thank you.