These experts called for an end to the intentional destruction of sites, institutions and objects of cultural, historical and religious significance in Ukraine.
UN experts on Wednesday denounced Russia’s “deliberate destruction” of Ukrainian culture as an attempt to eradicate Ukrainians’ right to their own identity, in a statement released two days before. the first anniversary of the Russian invasion.
These experts called for an end to the intentional destruction of sites, institutions and objects of cultural, historical and religious significance in Ukraine, adding that the continued denigration of the history and identity of the Ukrainian people was used as a justification of war and hatred.
“A year after the escalation of hostilities, many sites, institutions and objects of cultural, historical and religious significance in Ukraine have been partially or completely destroyed by military attacks from the Russian Federation,” the experts said in a statement. communicated.
“These include memorials and monuments, civic buildings, museums, theatres, monuments, statues, places of worship, cemeteries, libraries, archives, as well as schools, d ‘universities and hospitals’, according to the text.
Several hundred damaged cultural properties
The statement was written by UN special rapporteurs on cultural rights, the right to education and freedom of religion. These rapporteurs are mandated by the UN Human Rights Council but remain unpaid independent experts who do not speak on behalf of the UN.
Despite the 1954 Hague Convention on the Protection of Cultural Property in Time of War, UNESCO estimated that more than 240 cultural property had been damaged in Ukraine as of February 15, but this figure could exceed 1,000 according to UN experts.
“The Ukrainian people have the right to their identity”
These experts reported reports indicating that some sites were intentionally targeted, including buildings clearly identified as shelters, while attacks on densely populated areas are of such a scale “that they suggest a deliberate campaign of destruction”.
They also expressed concern over intense ‘targeting’ of ‘Ukrainian cultural symbols’, with the country’s literature, museums and archives ‘being destroyed’, amid widespread ‘demonization’ of culture and identity Ukrainians by Russian officials.
“Let’s be clear: the Ukrainian people have a right to their identity. No one can violate this right,” they added, stressing that “efforts are being made to erase local culture, history and language and replace them by force by Russian and Soviet versions” in areas occupied by Russian forces.
These experts said they had written to Moscow but had not yet received a response.
