HRDs oppose the participation of representatives of the Russian occupation administration in the 12th World Urban Forum

We, representatives of organizations dedicated to protecting the rights of individuals affected by the armed aggression against Ukraine, express our strong protest against the participation of representatives of the Russian occupation administration in the 12th World Urban Forum (WUF12), held from November 4–8, 2024, in Cairo, Egypt.

WUF12, organized by UN-Habitat, is a leading global conference focused on sustainable urban development, promoting peace, human rights, and social cohesion. The participation of Yanina Pavlenko and Konstantin Shimanovsky, representatives of the Russian occupation administration in temporarily occupied Crimea (Ukraine), is unacceptable, contradicts these values, and undermines trust in the event.

The actions of these individuals contribute to human rights violations and breaches of international law in the occupied territories of Ukraine. Specifically, they have systematically facilitated violations of the rights of Crimean Tatars and Ukrainians in occupied Yalta. Under their leadership and with their support, arrests, persecutions, restrictions on freedom of speech and assembly, enforced disappearances, torture, and discrimination in education and culture have taken place. These actions violate fundamental human rights and contravene international law. International organizations, including the UN and OSCE, have repeatedly addressed the human rights situation in occupied Crimea and urged Russia to end the repression of Crimean Tatars and Ukrainians. Furthermore, on June 25, 2024, the Grand Chamber of the European Court of Human Rights delivered its judgment in the inter-state case “Ukraine v. Russia (regarding Crimea),” holding Russia accountable for systematic violations of human rights and freedoms in the temporarily occupied territory of Crimea and the city of Sevastopol.

We are outraged that the WUF12 platform, instead of promoting the protection of victims of aggression, was used to legitimize the actions of the Russian occupation authorities, which have caused numerous tragedies, persecutions, and human rights violations in Ukraine’s temporarily occupied territories.

This incident not only damages the reputation of UN-Habitat but also undermines trust in international organizations that are supposed to uphold principles of justice and human rights protection.

We urge the forum organizers and UN-Habitat leadership to:

1. Publicly explain how representatives of the occupation administration gained access to participate in WUF12 organized by UN-Habitat.
2. Implement mechanisms to prevent representatives of occupation administrations from participating in future events.

We demand adherence to the principles of international law and call on the international community to unequivocally condemn any attempts to legitimize the occupation. Only through joint efforts can we create a safe and just future for all.

Signed by:

• Charitable Foundation”Stabilization Support Services”
• Human Rights Centre ZMINA
• Public Holding “INFLUENCE GROUP”
• NGO “Donbas SOS”
• NGO “Crimea SOS”
• Charitable Foundation “East SOS”
• Crimean Human Rights Group
• Kropyvnytska Human Rights Group
• NGO “Ukraine. Time to Unite”
• NGO “IDPs Perspective”
• NGO “Start in a New Life”
• NGO Human Rights Society “SPIVDRUZHNIST”
• Charitable Foundation “Positive Women of Zaporizhzhia”
• NGO “Country of Free Community”
• Council on IDP Issues at the Rivne Regional Military Administration
• Council on IDP Issues at the Bereznivska City Council
• NGO “Civil Initiatives Alliance”
• Council on IDP Issues at the Executive Committee of the Hadiatska City Council
• Council on IDPs at the Stavhne Village Council
• Charitable Foundation “Plich-o-Plich”, Bakhmut
• Council for IDPs of the Bilozerska community, Kherson region
• Coordinating Council for IDPs under the Executive Committee of the Trybukhivska Village Council
• NGO “Faine yednaie”
• Council for IDPs under the Ternopil Regional Military Administration
• Council for IDPs under the Marinska City Military Administration, Pokrovsky District, Donetsk Region
• Council for IDPs under the Sumy Regional State Administration
• Council for IDPs under the Berdychiv District State Administration
• Council for IDPs under the Kirovohrad Regional Military Administration
• Council for IDPs under the Zvenyhorod District State Administration
• Council for IDPs under the Novhorod-Siverska City Council, Chernihiv Region
• NGO “Zakarpattia – Donbas”
• Council for IDPs under the Rava-Ruska City Council, Lviv District, Lviv Region