You're reading: Watch discussion: COVID-19 and New Challenges To Human Rights in Crimea (VIDEO)

Crimea continues to exist with a precarious human rights situation, which has only been exacerbated by the arrival of the COVID-19 pandemic. Access to Crimea has traditionally been problematic for international human rights monitoring, and the restrictions as a result of the pandemic have left Crimea even more isolated.

Other outstanding historical problems are resulting in more dramatic consequences. Crimeans in detention and prison, including political prisoners, are even less accessible to the outside world, conditions are cramped and unhygienic, and access to medical treatment is often denied.

In addition, other issues deserve new attention, including the militarization of the peninsular, and particularly its children.

This online event aims to inform and update members and observers of the United Nations Human Rights Council on the human rights situation prior to their dialogue on the U.N. Secretary General’s new report on the human rights situation in Crimea.

Panelists:

– Matilda Bogner, head of the United Nations Human Rights Monitoring Mission in Ukraine
– Lilia Hemedzhy, Crimean human rights lawyer of Server Mustafayev (the coordinator of Crimean Solidarity, currently in detention) who will be speaking from Crimea
– Mykola Semena, an exiled Crimean journalist, subjected to politically motivated criminal persecution, author of Crimea.Realities (Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty)
– Olga Skrypnyk, chairperson of the Board of the Crimean Human Rights Group, a representative of Human Rights House Crimea and a Crimean human rights defender

Moderated by Brian Bonner, chief editor of the Kyiv Post

Zoom registration link: https://bit.ly/2NFWZEd

Webinar will be broadcast live at Human Rights House Foundation.