Statement on the invasion of Ukraine

The Human Rights Program condemns the aggression, grave human rights violations and war crimes that are the result of the military invasion of Ukraine by Russian forces. The war being carried out by the Russian Federation, including indiscriminate attacks against the civilian population, stands in violation of the basic norms of international human rights and humanitarian law.  We stand in solidarity with the Ukrainian people who are defending their right to self-determination, and we also stand with the Russian people who are speaking out against the war at grave personal risk.   

Article 2(4) of the United Nations Charter prohibits states from exercising the threat or use of force to undermine the territorial integrity or political independence of another state. Russia’s brazen assault on Ukraine’s sovereignty—and the Russian President’s repeated denial of Ukraine’s right to exist— violate the UN Charter and show contempt for the rule of law.  

The human costs of Russian aggression are sure to be enormous. Already, Russian forces have staged a systematic assault on Ukraine’s civilian infrastructure. The Russian air force has shelled schools, hospitals, and residential areas, including with widely prohibited cluster munitions and vacuum bombs. More than 2 million Ukrainians have already been forced to flee their homes.

We support the actions of the international community to document violations and to hold accountable those most responsible for the violations.  In particular:

• We support the General Assembly’s call for Russia to “immediately, completely and unconditionally withdraw” its forces from Ukraine.
• We commend the  International Criminal Court for its decision to investigate war crimes and crimes against humanity in Ukraine. 
• We support the UN Human Rights Council for its resolution establishing a commission to investigate violations committed during Russia’s military attack on Ukraine.

We are grateful for the welcome by neighboring nations shown to the millions of refugees, including more than one million children, who are fleeing the war.  We encourage host countries to meet the needs of all refugees, as required by the 1951 Refugee Convention and the 1967 Protocol, without discrimination with respect to race, color, national origin, or any other status.

We stand in solidarity with the Ukrainian people in their struggle for freedom and we extend support to faculty, students, and staff  of the University of Minnesota and community members who are suffering from this devastating conflict.