In September, one of our comrades was invited to the 60th session of the UN Human Rights Council in Geneva.
The session agenda includes official Assembly meetings, where representatives of member states speak, as well as separate events (side-events) where representatives of accredited organizations and invited participants discuss specific issues related to the session’s topics.
At one of these events, Andrey Konovalov, a PSL member, spoke together with Artyom Klyga from Connection e.V. (Germany) and Tal Mitnick, the first Israeli conscientious objector to be arrested after October 7.
In their presentations, the speakers addressed systematic human rights violations in Russia, Ukraine, and Israel: the persecution of anti-war voices, the blocking of migration routes, and pressure on journalists, activists, and deserters. Taken together, these accounts form a picture in which war and militarization inevitably destroy the very democratic values that liberal governments claim to defend.
It is impossible to defend human rights while supporting militarization, because militarization accelerates the erosion of democracy and normalizes repression, torture, and arbitrary rule.
Among those present were representatives of the permanent missions of Ukraine and Belarus to the UN. They did not indicate their official participation and did not take the nameplates of their delegations, preferring to remain anonymous.
Nevertheless, their presence demonstrated interest in the work carried out by members of our organization.
After the presentation, a meeting was held with staff of the Office of the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights. They prepare analytical reports that become the basis for international pressure on states. It was proposed to maintain cooperation and share documented cases of violations directly.
This is not a symbolic gesture, but a real channel that makes it possible to bring concrete facts to international institutions. The next report is currently being prepared. If you have well-documented violations with facts, context, and supporting materials, they can—and should—be submitted. Such materials may be included in the upcoming report. The deadline for submissions is in February.
We use every available platform to amplify the voices of those affected. This is another step toward making the experiences of resistance — from Eastern Europe to Israel — visible, and solidarity without borders.
Права человека на деле это не лозунг, а мир и готовность солидарно защищать друг друга, не полагаясь на лучших представителей власти. Для этого необходимо выстраивать широкую сеть низовых организаций, основанных на общих принципах и нацеленных на долгосрочную работу. Цель не в выборе меньшего зла, а в том, чтобы стать силой самим.
Only in this way can we resist elite politics, the widespread rightward shift, and militaristic frenzy.
Despite drawing the ire of those who defend repression and militarist agendas on both sides of the Russian-Ukrainian border, we will continue to consistently defend the interests of the majority who suffer from this war.
