Thank you, Mr Vice President.

Thank you, High Commissioner, for your update.

We condemn the Russia’s treatment of Ukrainian civilian detainees. Civilians are subjected to arbitrary detention, to torture and frequently held in dire conditions.

International humanitarian law is unambiguous: civilians can only be detained on lawful grounds and must be released from detention as soon as the lawful grounds for their detention cease to exist. Russia must cease unlawful detention and abuse of Ukrainian civilians, ensure humane conditions, and release those who have been arbitrarily detained.

They must also ensure the return of all Ukrainian children who have been illegally deported to Russia and the temporarily occupied territories. Children must not be a pawn of war.

We recognise that, as a

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