As we respond to the agony of Ukraine we must intensify real action for human rights
Over the course of thirty years of global human rights advocacy I have witnessed far too many grim and harrowing times of governments in all corners of our world showing utter contempt for international law, disdain for human rights and callous disregard for the safety and well-being of civilians.
And here we are again.
In flagrant and unapologetic violation of the UN Charter, Russia’s massive invasion of Ukraine has commenced.
The ego of a tyrannical autocrat, the toxic desire to rekindle the embers of a dead empire, and an insidious web of lies and disinformation have all come together with a vicious punch. That punch is now leaving a path of death, destruction, fear and displacement across Ukraine. All against the backdrop of foreboding nuclear threats.
And the reverberations go far, to neighbouring countries, throughout the region, Europe and, truly, worldwide. For it is so blatant, so unjustified, and so unequivocally unlawful, that the entire so-called and frequently overly vaunted rules-based international order is now teetering on a very fragile precipice.
How to stop it? Why is there no clear and meaningful means by which Russian troops can be forced to retreat, cease the assault and return home? Those are the impossible questions on everyone’s minds and breaking all of our hearts.
Ukrainians are rallying and showing remarkable defiance and courage.
We must rally to their side, and bring solidarity to their defiance and courage.
And while we readily and understandably feel anger and cynicism that it is still possible in our world, in 2022, for a Permanent Member of the UN Security Council to breach the fundamental precepts at the heart of the United Nations without effective deterrent or meaningful consequence, we must turn away from that disempowering temptation.
We must instead turn that anger and cynicism into a wave of mobilization; for humanity. Here is some of what is on my mind.
We must first and foremost, listen for and lift up the voices and demands of Ukrainians, amidst the cacophony of experts rushing in and the ocean of misinformation drowning out truth.
The anguished insistence from the growing number of Russians who are turning to the streets and to social media, and prominent Russians who are courageously speaking out, all in opposition to the war, must be protected and amplified.
Every possible form of pressure and sanction must be brought to bear on Russian political leaders, business elites and others who are responsible for and benefiting from these crimes. That absolutely must include Vladimir Putin himself. Sanctions that stick and sanctions that hurt.
Any and all avenues of justice and accountability – whether it be today, tomorrow or years down the road – must be explored and pursued, so that wretched impunity does not once again win the day this time. No one can be exempt.
The humanitarian response must be vigorous and immediate, including for the vast numbers of Ukrainians already crossing borders (and the many others who will follow) to seek refuge in neighbouring states and looking for safety in countries further afield, including Canada.
And beyond Ukraine and Russia, we must fiercely commit to international human rights, universally and consistently, in ways we have never done. Myanmar and China have been allowed to get away with genocide against the Rohingya and Uyghurs. Israel’s apartheid against Palestinians is unchecked. Saudi Arabia’s war crimes in Yemen are abetted through arms sales. The horrors of the conflict in Tigray seem to have faded from international concern. More and more borders close down to refugees. The United States, still, has failed and refused to shut down Guantánamo Bay. Action to address the climate crisis is, at best, half-hearted and disingenuous. Corporations are rarely held accountable for the grievous human rights abuses they cause. And Canada’s glaring failure to pursue rights-based reconciliation with Indigenous peoples tears at our national soul. All of this hypocrisy, these double standards and inexcusable inaction foster a broken world that lawlessly leads us directly to Moscow and Ukraine. Why would it not? But that cannot continue. No matter how tough it may be, the way out, and the way ahead, can no longer stray from a firm global human rights path. While that is an enormous challenge, in the face of entrenched power structures imbued with racism and greed, our collective force is greater. But only if each of us joins in that effort, and each of us commits to putting human rights first, in every encounter and every choice.
It may feel daunting to imagine what any of us can do for Ukraine. But there is so much we can and must do. It certainly does not lie in staying silent or giving up. It lies in joining together for human rights, everyone’s human rights.
