UN Human Rights Spokesperson Ravina Shamdasani LOCATION Geneva RELATED STATEMENTS AND SPEECHES Launch of "Disability and Armed Conflict," a report by the Geneva Academy of International Humanitarian Law and Human Rights PRESS RELEASES VIOLENCE AGAINST WOMEN LINKED TO POVERTY, ARMED CONFLICT, THIRD COMMITTEE TOLD, AS DISCUSSION OF WOMEN’S ISSUES CONCLUDES STATEMENTS WCAR Plenary 3 September 2001 Statement by Mr. Françis Amar, Chief, Division of International Organizations, ICRC We deplore the killing of civilians in an attack on the occupied Ukrainian city of Donetsk yesterday, when two local markets and a nearby residential area were struck. We are trying to obtain more information about the attack – despite our lack of access to Donetsk and other Russian-occupied areas of Ukraine. We are currently verifying preliminary reports which indicate that civilians were killed in the attack. It is crucial that thorough, prompt and independent investigations be carried out to determine the facts and responsibility for this attack. The investigation should establish whether this attack violated applicable law on the conduct of hostilities, with a view to ensuring accountability. The UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Volker Türk stresses that international humanitarian law must be strictly respected. Parties to the conflict must take all necessary precautions to avoid civilian casualties and protect civilians from harm. For more information and media requests, please contact: In Geneva Ravina Shamdasani : + 41 22 917 9169 / ravina.shamdasani@un.org or Liz Throssell : + 41 22 917 9296 / elizabeth.throssell@un.org or Thameen Al-Kheetan : + 41 76 223 7762 / thameen.alkheetan@un.org Tag and share Twitter @UNHumanRights Facebook unitednationshumanrights Instagram @unitednationshumanrights Situation in the Occupied Palestinian Territory and Israel See all Media coverage of the situation