‘Massive’ Ukraine violations in focus as U.N. human rights body meets

The U.N. rights chief condemned Russia’s “senseless” invasion of Ukraine on Monday at the start of a Human Rights Council session at which countries want to strengthen scrutiny of Moscow’s alleged war crimes and raise China’s treatment of Muslim Uyghurs.
Volker Turk, the U.N. High Commissioner, in one of his first speeches to the 47-member council, warned that human rights gains were being reined back and even reversed, citing Russia’s invasion of Ukraine as an example of oppression.
U.N. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres said in a separate speech that the war had triggered “massive violations” of rights.
During the meeting, which runs until April 4, many states will seek to extend the mandate of a U.N investigation body set up to probe atrocities in Ukraine.