After allegations of mass killings of civilians in Bucha and other Ukrainian cities, 93 UN members, including Slovenia, voted in favour of the resolution on the suspension of the Russian Federation.

The Russian aggression against Ukraine constitutes a grave violation of the principles and purposes of the UN Charter as the Russian Federation violates international humanitarian law and human rights law.

In the debate, Slovenia underlined that states violating human rights cannot be members of the highest UN human rights body. Together with partner states and allies, and in cooperation with the International Criminal Court, Slovenia will do its utmost to bring the perpetrators of these atrocious crimes to justice.

The UN General Assembly’s vote sends a strong signal about the responsibility to preserve the integrity of the UNHRC, the authority of the General Assembly and the credibility of the UN human rights system. The 2006 Resolution of the General Assembly on the establishment of the Human Rights Council envisages the suspension of membership in the Council of a member that commits gross and systematic violations of human rights.