A UN skilled mentioned Friday she believes that credible allegations of torture and different inhumane acts dedicated by Russian forces towards Ukrainian civilians and prisoners of battle represent a “war policy.”
Alice Jill Edwards, the UN Special Rapporteur on Torture, mentioned at a UN press convention a couple of report she offered to the Human Rights Council, “These grievous crimes appear to be neither random nor incidental.”
“In taking each case that I’ve looked at individually, I’m confident in my findings that these allegations are credible, and regrettably that they really point to Russia’s war policy, that there is an intent and purpose to carrying out the torture and that it cannot be described away as aberrant behavior or ad hoc behavior,” mentioned Edwards.
“The report also details my visit to one of the Ukrainian prisoner-of-war camps to verify and check the conditions of detention and general standards of care for Russian prisoners of war, in which I found that the international standards were largely being met,” she mentioned.
In reply to a query, she mentioned she had requested visits to Russia in November and at different occasions, a few of which weren’t answered, however obtained a latest “note verbale,” which rejected her go to.
“I have sought on multiple occasions to meet with the Russian authorities here in Geneva, and I will continue to do so so that I can exercise my mandate independently and impartially,” mentioned the UN skilled.
She mentioned, in reply to a different query a couple of report from Israel on Thursday concerning the killing of 27 Palestinian detainees from Gaza in Israeli detention facilities since October, she was investigating.
Edwards mentioned she was “in the process stage of verifying” and “substantiating such allegations” however was unable to touch upon the variety of deaths talked about.
– Israel go to requested
“I have also requested a visit to Israel, and I’m in discussions with the Israeli authorities,” mentioned Edwards.
Speaking about her report, Edwards mentioned, “Far too many individuals are imprisoned, for too lengthy, in severely overcrowded amenities.
“The link between poverty and incarceration is clear-people from disadvantaged or marginalized communities are far more likely to be imprisoned than other socio-economic groups,” mentioned the UN Special Rapporteur on torture.
“Significant challenges facing prisons are found in some form in almost every country,” the UN skilled mentioned.
She defined that prisons are underneath stress from too many calls for, inadequate sources, and insufficient staffing, and because of this, circumstances are “often unsafe and inhumane.”
“The widespread neglect of prisons and prisoners in countries around the world has a significant social impact, exacerbating poverty and the likelihood of recidivism, and ultimately failing to keep the public safe,” mentioned Edwards.
Source: www.anews.com.tr