The undersigned, 234 social and human rights organizations of the Americas, wish to express our support for the cessation of the Russian Federation’s aggression in Ukraine and the strict compliance with international human rights law and international humanitarian law

On February 24, 2022, the Russian Federation breached its commitments to the principles and obligations arising from the Charter of the United Nations by abandoning peaceful methods of conflict resolution and resorting to the use of force to violate the territorial integrity and self-determination of Ukraine. Most of the nations and peoples of the world have recognized the move as an act of unilateral aggression by Russia, which makes use of its armed force to attack the sovereignty, freedom, territorial integrity, and political independence of Ukraine, and, above all, the integrity and life of the Ukrainian people. An unlawful and unjustified act of aggression with no grounds of a political, economic, military, or any other nature under international law.

Despite its international obligations, the existence of mechanisms for peaceful conflict resolution, and the willingness of nations to achieve these solutions through dialogue, Russia has ignored the calls and put Universal Peace at risk. The use of weapons, the threats to escalate the conflict if other nations intervene, and the sole mention of a state of alert in the nuclear weapons system have placed nations, the International System for the Protection of Human Rights, and the citizens of the world before their most important challenge in recent history.

The United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), Filippo Grandi, warned that a million people had to leave Ukraine for Poland and other neighboring countries in just 7 days, calling it “the fastest exodus in recent history”. the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights (HCHR), Michelle Bachelet, in her report to the 49th session of the Human Rights Council, described the situation as “one of the most serious peace and security crises in recent years”, with massive impacts on the human rights of millions of people in Ukraine and new and dangerous threats to all of humanity.

The Office of the HCHR has registered several armed attacks against the civilian population, resulting in 752 civilian casualties, including 227 dead, 15 of them children, and at least 525 wounded, including 28 children, estimates that could be much higher after confirmation, in addition to the damage and destruction of residential areas, schools, cultural places, hospitals, and vital service facilities for civilian life such as water, sanitation, and fuel. The aggression of the Russian government has unleashed a «humanitarian and human rights crisis in Ukraine» in just a few days.

Given the very serious nature and scale of the events in Ukraine, we, the individuals and civil society organizations who believe in the defense of human rights and the peaceful resolution of conflicts:

a. Express our deepest respects and solidarity to all the victims of this unjustified military action, in any of the dimensions of damage and suffering caused, which violates the most transcendental principles and rights of humanity.

b. Demand that absolute priority be given to the preservation of the life, integrity, and protection of all the victims of this aggression, both inside Ukraine and for those who had to flee to save their lives and survive. Millions of people are in danger of death, the hundreds of deaths that have already occurred are unacceptable.

c. Condemn both targeted and indiscriminate attacks against homes, civilian shelters, health care centers and humanitarian assistance activities, places of cultural, religious, and memory relevance, and basic services facilities, which constitute serious violations of international law in contexts of armed conflict.

d. Welcome the call of the OHCHR for the prioritization of the protection of the civilian population and the request to all parties in conflict to guarantee, respect, provide, protect, and allow the effective and independent action of international activists in the fields of human rights, humanitarian assistance, and refugee protection.

e. Demand the respect for and guarantee of the rights to freedom of thought and expression, peaceful assembly, and association of the people of Russia and Belarus, who have expressed their rejection from the early days of the aggression and requested their governments to withdraw from Ukraine and to find peaceful mechanisms for the resolution of the conflict. In Russia alone, the number of arbitrary arrests in the context of protests rises to more than 13,000.

f. Recognize, based on the Charter of the United Nations, the principle of self-determination, the peaceful resolution of conflicts, and the spirit of friendship and solidarity that must prevail among the nations and peoples of the world.

g. Urge the government of the Russian Federation to return to the principles and obligations that it has voluntarily committed to as a member of the United Nations, through an immediate ceasefire, the withdrawal of military troops from Ukraine, and an immediate end to the violations and abuses of international human rights law and international humanitarian law in Ukraine, in strict compliance with resolutions issued by the United Nations General Assembly and the Human Rights Council; as well as to search for and active participation in good faith in any peaceful way to solve the controversies and conflicts with Ukraine. We extend this call to the government of Belarus and request it to refrain from supporting this aggression against the people of Ukraine.

h. Reject the warmongering rhetoric and the threats by Russian President Vladimir Putin of possible military action against countries that offer help to Ukraine, and further deplore the warning of the possible use of nuclear weapons and psychological terror, contrary to the respect for human dignity, against the population of the entire planet, including the people of Russia.

i. Condemn all the past and present human rights violations against the civilian population committed by the military forces from all parties to the conflict. Military and security officials must guarantee the respect for, protection, and observance of the human rights of all people, as well as the protection of residential areas, hospitals, schools, shelters, and vital, cultural, and religious facilities under the 1949 Geneva Conventions and their Additional Protocols.

j. Demand guarantees of non-discrimination based on race, ethnicity, nationality, politics, religion, ideology, sexual orientation, gender identity, and gender expression for people seeking refuge in Ukraine and other countries, as well as the protection of all people with special emphasis on the elderly, pregnant women, children and adolescents and people with disabilities, chronic or life-threatening illnesses, human rights defenders, journalists, and members of the media.

k. Support the meetings that representatives of both nations are holding as a fundamental way to find a concerted, peaceful resolution with guarantees of rights, and we also advocate that they be held under the principles of respect, equality, and good faith, prioritizing life, integrity, human rights, the well-being of their people and of all humanity.

The aggression against Ukraine represents a serious violation of the principles, agreements, and peaceful forms of coexistence that gave rise to the United Nations Charter and the International Human Rights System. Faced with threats of an escalation of the armed conflict, civil society and human rights organizations see with extreme concern the response of nations in the form of distrust in their neighbors, increased spending on weapons, and the resumption of an arms race in response to fear.

On the contrary, we believe that the alarms raised by today’s conflict should call for reflection and a real commitment to desist from weapons, missiles, bombs, and, above all, nuclear weapons, while guaranteeing that the threats of the use of nuclear force are never repeated and that they remain hidden in the chronicles of a shameful history for humanity.

Peaceful coexistence, even with its imperfections, is at risk and poses urgent challenges for governments and citizens of the world. The events of aggression in Ukraine force us to look back to the principles that gave birth to the Charter of the United Nations and to rethink its operation, assertiveness, and effectiveness for its evolution, adaptation, and progress in the face of the new challenges that are presented to humanity for the effective realization of equality, respect, peace, and dignity.

Making preventive mechanisms work in a timely manner to eradicate warlike actions, small- or large-scale territorial conflicts, the advance of authoritarianism, and practices that violate human rights and fundamental freedoms is critical to avoid repeating the cycles of war, death, and humanitarian crises. Faced with the loss of trust in human beings, it is time for more humanity and more dignity, without discrimination, in equality and fraternity. Let no suffering be alien to us.

Signatories:

1. A.C. Asamblea de Educación. Venezuela
2. A.C. Casa del Nuevo Pueblo. Venezuela
3. A.C. Radar de los Barrios. Venezuela
4. AC Amigos de Sotillo Edo. Monagas. Venezuela
5. AC Anzoátegui Sin VIH – SIDA. Venezuela
6. AC Ciudadanía Luna Nueva. Venezuela
7. AC. Concentroccidente del Grupo Social Cesap. Venezuela
8. AC Conciencia Ciudadana. Venezuela
9. A.C. Médicos Unidos de Venezuela
10. Acceso a la Justicia. Venezuela
11. Acción femenina. Venezuela
12. Acción Solidaria. Venezuela
13. ACCSI. Acción Ciudadana Contra el SIDA, Venezuela. Venezuela
14. Agenda Social AC. Venezuela
15. Alianza Venezolana por la Salud. Venezuela
16. AMBAR Asociación Civil. Venezuela
17. América Diversa Inc. Estados Unidos de América
18. Amigos Trasplantados de Venezuela. Venezuela
19. Apauna. Venezuela
20. Apucla. Venezuela
21. Apufat. Venezuela
22. Aquí Cabemos Todos. Venezuela
23. Asociación Cauce. Venezuela
24. Asociación Civil Centro Campesino El Convite. Venezuela
25. Asociación Civil Compromiso Ciudadano. Venezuela
26. Asociación Civil de Ciudadanos Luna Nueva. Venezuela
27. Asociación Civil Vida y Luz (Asoviluz). Venezuela
28. Asociación de Profesores de la UCV. Venezuela
29. Asociación de Profesores de la UNELLEZ. Venezuela
30. Asociación de Profesores de la Universidad de Carabobo. Venezuela
31. Asociación de Profesores de la Universidad del Zulia APUZ. Venezuela
32. Asociación de Profesores de la Universidad Simón Bolívar. Venezuela
33. Asociación de Profesores Jubilados UPEL Maracay. APROJUPEL. Venezuela
34. Asociación de Vecinos de Santa Paula ASOPAULA. Venezuela
35. Asociación de Venezolanos en Paraguay-PACUHR. Paraguay
36. Asociación Fe y Derechos Humanos – Puno FEDERH. Perú
37. Asociación Nuevos Horizontes. Guatemala
38. Asoprovital. Venezuela
39. Ateneo Ecológico del Orinoco. Venezuela
40. Aula Abierta. Venezuela
41. AVESSOC. Venezuela
42. Azul Positivo. Venezuela
43. Banco del Libro. Venezuela
44. Bandesir Lara. Venezuela
45. Banho de Cidadania Recife Pacurh. Brasil
46. CADAL. Argentina
47. Café DDHH. Venezuela
48. Caleidoscopio Humano. Venezuela
49. Campo ONG. Venezuela
50. Caracas Ciudad Plural. Venezuela
51. Caracas Mi Convive. Venezuela
52. Cecavid. Venezuela
53. Cedice Libertad. Venezuela
54. Centro de Animación Juvenil. Venezuela
55. Centro de Atención Integral Psicopedagógica Individual (CAIPI). Perú
56. Centro de Derechos Humanos de la Universidad Metropolitana. Venezuela
57. Centro de Desarrollo Humano Sustentable. Venezuela
58. Centro de Formación para la Democracia CFD. Venezuela
59. Centro de Información y servicios de asesoría en salud. Nicaragua
60. Centro de Investigación Social Formación y Estudios de la Mujer CISFEM. Venezuela
61. Centro LGBTIQ+ de Mérida. Venezuela
62. Centro Nicaragüense de Derechos Humanos, CENIDH. Nicaragua
63. Centro de Justicia y Paz. Cepaz. Venezuela
64. Circuito Gran Cine. Venezuela
65. Ciudadanía Activa. Venezuela
66. Ciudadanía con Compromiso AC. Venezuela
67. Civilis Derechos Humanos. Venezuela
68. Clima21 – Ambiente y Derechos Humanos. Venezuela
69. Coalición de Organizaciones por el Derecho a la Salud y la Vida. Codevida. Venezuela
70. Cocomacia. Colombia
71. Colectiva Feminista Las Malcriadas. Nicaragua
72. Colectiva de Feministas Rurales Occidente. Nicaragua
73. Colegio de Enfermeros del estado Carabobo. Venezuela
74. Colegio de Médicos de Monagas. Venezuela
75. Comisión de DDHH de la Federación Venezolana de Colegios de Abogados del estado Apure. Venezuela
76. Comisión de derechos humanos de la Facultad de Ciencias Jurídicas y Políticas de la Universidad del Zulia. Venezuela
77. Comisión de Derechos Humanos. COMISEDH.  Perú
78. Comisión Ecuménica de Derechos Humanos. Ecuador
79. Comisión Nacional de DDHH de la Federación de Colegios de Abogados de Venezuela – Lara. Venezuela
80. Comisión Nacional de DDHH de la Federación de Colegios de Abogados de Venezuela – Mérida. Venezuela
81. Comisión Nacional de DDHH de la Federación de Colegios de Abogados de Venezuela – Táchira. Venezuela
82. Comisión para los Derechos Humanos del Estado Zulia. Codhez. Venezuela
83. Comité Azul y Blanco Estelí. Nicaragua
84. Comité de Derechos Humanos de la Guajira. Venezuela
85. Comité para la defensa de los derechos humanos parroquia Coche. Venezuela
86. Comités para la Defensa de los DDHH. Venezuela
87. Comunidad en Movimiento AC. Venezuela
88. Conciencia Ciudadana AC. Venezuela
89. Confederación Sordos de Venezuela. CONSORVEN. Venezuela
90. Consejo Comunal de la urb. Santa Paula. Venezuela
91. Convite AC. Venezuela
92. Cooperativa Financiera Valera. Venezuela
93. DefensActiva. Venezuela
94. Defensor derecho humano voluntario. Nicaragua
95. Driectia de desarrollo económico de Cortázar, GTo. México
96. Epikeia Derechos Humanos. Venezuela
97. Equipo de Proyectos y Asesoría Social-EDEPA. Venezuela
98. Espacio Civil a.c. Venezuela
99. Espacio Público. Venezuela
100. Excubitus DHE. Venezuela
101. Fe en Venezuela. Estados Unidos de America
102. Fe y Alegría. Venezuela
103. Federación de Asociaciones de Profesores Universitarios. Venezuela. Fapuv. Venezuela
104. Federación de Estudiantes Universitarios por los DDHH (FEDEHU). Venezuela
105. Federación Médica de Monagas. Venezuela
106. Federación Nacional de Sociedades de Padres y Representantes FENASOPADRES. Venezuela
107. Federación Venezolana de Abogadas. FEVA. Venezuela
108. Foro San Antonio. Venezuela
109. Frente Nacional de Mujeres. Venezuela
110. Fuerza Ecológica Calabozo – FECOLCA. Venezuela
111. Fuerza Liberal. Venezuela
112. Funcamama, Fundación de lucha contra el cáncer. Venezuela
113. Fundación Agua Sin Fronteras. Venezuela
114. Fundación Aguaclara. Venezuela
115. Fundación Aylwin. Chile
116. Fundación Basura Cero. Venezuela
117. Fundación CIIDER. Venezuela
118. Fundación Ciudadanía y Desarrollo. Ecuador
119. Fundación Civitas. Venezuela
120. Fundación Comunidades Ciudadanas. Venezuela
121. Fundación CONSTRUIR. Bolivia
122. Fundación Cultivar. Venezuela
123. Fundación Cultural Simón Bolívar-PACUHR. Colombia
124. Fundación de Derechos Humanos Anzoátegui. Venezuela
125. Fundación Diáspora venezolana. FUNDIASVE. Venezuela
126. Fundación Emprendedores Solidarios. Venezuela
127. FUNDACIÓN INCIDE. Venezuela
128. Fundación La Gran Victoria Monagas. Venezuela
129. Fundación Lucelia. Venezuela
130. Fundación Manos solidarias. Venezuela
131. Fundación Migración en Positivo. Colombia
132. Fundación para el Debido Proceso Fundepro. Venezuela
133. Fundación para el Desarrollo Integral FUNDESI. Venezuela
134. Fundación para la Prevención de la Violencia contra las Mujeres. Venezuela
135. Fundación Parkinson Carabobo. Venezuela
136. Fundación Ramón Devia. Venezuela
137. Fundación Renacer Ciudadano. Venezuela
138. Fundación Rio de agua viva, uniendo fronteras – Pacuhr. Colombia
139. Fundación Sin Fronteras Manizales FSFM. Colombia
140. Fundapden Internacional. Paraguay/Venezuela
141. Fundación Punto Ecológico. Venezuela
142. FundaRedes. Venezuela
143. Fundaval. Venezuela
144. FUSADES. El Salvador
145. Gaia, Centro de las mujeres. Venezuela
146. Geografía Viva A. C. Venezuela
147. GobiernaTec. Venezuela
148. Grupo Social Cesap. Venezuela
149. Hearts On Venezuela. Venezuela
150. Indigenous Women Legal Awareness Group (INWOLAG). Nepal
151. Instituto de Prensa y Libertad de Expresión IPLEX. Costa Rica
152. Instituto de Promoción y Educación Popular. Comisión de Justicia Social IPEP CJS Chimbote.  Perú
153. Instituto Mead de Venezuela AC. Venezuela
154. Ipys Venezuela. Venezuela
155. JPT. Venezuela
156. La Choza del Espíritu Santo. Venezuela
157. La ONG. Organización Nelson Garrido. Venezuela
158. Laboratorio de Paz. Venezuela
159. Latinoamérica Sustentable. Ecuador
160. Manos Solidarias. Venezuela
161. Más Acciones Más Planeta. Venezuela/ Argentina
162. Médicos Unidos Venezuela. Venezuela
163. Médicos Unidos de Venezuela capitulo Carabobo. Venezuela
164. Mesa de Educación. Plan País. Venezuela
165. Monitor de Derechos Humanos. Venezuela
166. Monitor Social A.C. Venezuela
167. Movimiento de Educadores Prieto Figueroa. Venezuela
168. Movimiento Ciudadano @Dale_letra. Venezuela
169. Movimiento Creando Ciudadanos (MOCRECI). Venezuela
170. Movimiento Manuela Ramos. Perú
171. Movimiento Por la Democracia. Venezuela
172. Movimiento San Isidro. Cuba
173. Movimiento SOMOS. Venezuela
174. Movimiento Soy Pico Rojo Nicaragua. Nicaragua
175. Movimiento X El Ávila. Venezuela
176. MUDCA. América Latina
177. Mujer y Ciudadanía-Chile. Chile
178. Mujer y Ciudadanía A.C. Venezuela
179. Mujeres por la Democracia. Venezuela
180. Mujeres por la libertad. Venezuela
181. Mulier Venezuela. Venezuela
182. Multirecicla CA. Venezuela
183. Observatorio de Derechos Humanos de la Universidad de los Andes. Venezuela
184. Observatorio Venezolano DDHH Mujeres. Venezuela
185. Observatorio Venezolano de Libertad Sindical. Venezuela
186. Observatorio Venezolano de Prisiones. Venezuela
187. OC Las Carolinas. Venezuela
188. ONG El Despertar Ciudadano. Venezuela
189. ONG No Permitas Malos Tratos. Venezuela
190. ONG Venezuela sin Fronteras – Pacurh. Colombia
191. Organización Comunitaria Brisas de Guacarapo Edo. Sucre. Venezuela
192. Organización Comunitaria La Choza del Espíritu Santo Edo Monagas. Venezuela
193. Organización Comunitaria La Gran Victoria Zona 10. Venezuela
194. Organización Comunitaria Las Carolinas Monagas. Venezuela
195. Organización Comunitaria Las Vírgenes Edo Monagas. Venezuela
196. Organización Comunitaria Luna Nueva estado Monagas. Venezuela
197. Organización Humanitaria Zona 10. Venezuela
198. Organisation Trans d’Haïti, OTRAH. Haití.
199. Padres Organizados de Venezuela. Venezuela
200. Panamerican and Caribbean Union for Humans Rights PACUHR. Las Américas
201. Paz y Esperanza. Perú
202. People in Need. República Checa
203. Piloneras. Venezuela
204. Prepara Familia. Venezuela
205. Programa Venezolano e Educación Acción en Derechos Humanos. Provea. Venezuela
206. Promedehum. Venezuela
207. Psicólogos sin Fronteras Venezuela. Venezuela
208. Red de Organizaciones de Derechos Humanos del Estado Anzoátegui REDHANZ. Venezuela
209. Red Economía Circular Venezuela. Venezuela
210. Red Organizaciones Vecinales Baruta. Venezuela
211. Remisod. Costa Rica
212. Sabuesos Guerrera A.C. Y Sabuesos Guerras ext Oaxaca. México
213. Senos Ayuda A.C. Venezuela
214. Sinergia Global Consulting Group spa. Chile
215. Sinergia Red Venezolana de Organizaciones de Sociedad Civil. Venezuela
216. Sociedad Civil activa de Yaracuy. Venezuela
217. Sociedad Hominis Iura (SOHI). Venezuela
218. Sociedad Venezolana de Coaching. Venezuela
219. Sociedad Venezolana de Ingenieros de minas y metalúrgicos SVIMM. Venezuela
220. StopVIH. Venezuela
221. The Bianca Jagger Human Rights Foundation. The JHRF. United Kingdom
222. Todos por el Futuro. Venezuela
223. Transparencia Venezuela
224. UCAB. Venezuela
225. Una Ventana a la Libertad. Venezuela
226. Unión Afirmativa. Venezuela
227. Unión Vecinal para la Participación Ciudadana AC. Venezuela
228. Uquira. Venezuela
229. Venezolanos en Quillota. Chile
230. Venezuela Diversa. Venezuela
231. Vicaría de DDHH de la Arquidiócesis de Barquisimeto. Venezuela
232. Voces Q’ Suman. Venezuela
233. Voces Vitales. Venezuela
234. Wola (Oficina Washington para asuntos latinoamericanos). Estados Unidos de América