UNSC briefing on Ukraine

[11 April 2022; 1000 hrs]

Remarks by Ambassador T.S. Tirumurti

Permanent Representative of India to the United Nations

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Let me begin by thanking our briefers for their insights into impact of the situation on women and children, particularly with respect to education.

2. Women and children invariably suffer the most in any armed conflicts or military confrontation. From reports coming out of Ukraine, women and children have been disproportionately impacted and form the bulk of the refugees and Internally Displaced Persons. More than 4.4 million people have moved to neighboring countries and another 7.1 million are displaced inside Ukraine.

3. We commend the Ukraine's neighboring countries who have welcomed refugees from Ukraine, and especially for treating women and children with compassion and dignity. As a country which has welcomed refugees over centuries, India knows the importance and value of treating them equally and with dignity and catering to their needs and requirements. In this context, we need to keep the gender perspective in mind and act with sensitivity. We call for a victim-centered approach to preventing and responding to sexual violence in armed conflicts.

4. The impact of situation on education of children has also been severe. It has further aggravated the pandemic related challenges that children were already facing. There are reports that more than 900 education facilities and schools have been either damaged or destroyed in Ukraine.

5. Let us also not forget that the situation has also affected foreign students, including Indian students. India facilitated safe return of 22500 Indian nationals, most of them students studying in various universities in Ukraine. We are exploring options to minimize the impact on our students' education. We appreciate the relaxations made by the Ukrainian Government for this academic year in respect of medical students.

6. Even as we deal with the influx of refugees, we continue to remain deeply concerned at the worsening situation in Ukraine and reiterate our call for immediate end to hostilities. When innocent human lives are at stake, diplomacy must prevail as the only viable option.

7. Since the inception of the Ukrainian conflict, India has stood for peace, dialogue and diplomacy. We believe that no solution can be arrived at by shedding blood and at the cost of innocent lives, especially that of women and children.

8. It is in our collective interest to work constructively, both inside the United Nations and outside, towards seeking an early resolution to the conflict.

9. Allow me to reiterate the importance of UN Guiding Principles of Humanitarian Assistance once again. Humanitarian action must always be guided by the principles of humanitarian assistance, i.e., humanity, neutrality, impartiality, and independence. These measures should not be politicized.

10. We continue to emphasize to Member States that the global order is anchored on international law, the UN Charter and respect for the territorial integrity and sovereignty of states.

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