𝗟𝗶𝗯𝗲𝗿𝗶𝗮 𝗨𝗿𝗴𝗲𝘀 𝗥𝗲𝘀𝗽𝗲𝗰𝘁 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝗜𝗻𝘁𝗲𝗿𝗻𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻𝗮𝗹 𝗟𝗮𝘄, 𝗣𝗿𝗼𝘁𝗲𝗰𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗼𝗳 𝗖𝗶𝘃𝗶𝗹𝗶𝗮𝗻𝘀 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗥𝗲𝗻𝗲𝘄𝗲𝗱 𝗗𝗶𝗽𝗹𝗼𝗺𝗮𝗰𝘆 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝗣𝗲𝗮𝗰𝗲 𝗶𝗻 𝗨𝗸𝗿𝗮𝗶𝗻𝗲

New York: H.E. Ambassador Lewis G. Brown, II, Permanent Representative of Liberia to the United Nations, delivered a national statement yesterday at the UN Security Council Arria formula meeting entitled “Piercing the Blind Spots of Violations of International Humanitarian Law and International Human Rights Law in the Context of the Ukrainian Crisis: Putting the Spotlight on the Activities of the Armed Forces of Ukraine.”

He urged cooperation with relevant independent international mechanisms to ensure the rights of civilians, victims, and prisoners of war, calling on all parties to adhere to or comply with applicable international humanitarian law and international human rights law and to exercise restraint.

The PR of Liberia indicated that prisoners of war must be treated humanely; torture is prohibited without exception, while civilians must be protected on all sides of the frontlines.

He said war is mutually destructive; peace is mutually constructive.

“Every victim deserved to be heard, serious allegations require impartial examination, and every person, including prisoners of war, is entitled to protection under international law,” he demanded.

Ambassador Brown also called for unimpeded ICRC access to prisoners of war and protected civilian detainees consistent with the Geneva Convention, raising concerns about civilian seafarers whose lives are endangered by conflicts.

The Republic of Liberia reaffirmed the UN Charter and the peaceful settlement of disputes, urging renewed diplomacy towards a ceasefire and lasting peace consistent with the Charter.

Liberia expressed concerns about Russian civilians, prisoners of war, and allegations of torture, unlawful detention, and other abuses, as well as the suffering of Ukrainian civilians and prisoners of war.