Press Release issued by One Justice Organization Regarding the Ongoing Increase in Civilian Casualties and Violations of International Law

Paris -France

One Justice Organization expresses deep concern over the continued alarming rise in the number of civilian casualties and shocking violations of international law during the conflict between Russia and Ukraine.

In light of the reports from international sources indicating an increase in the number of civilian casualties, reaching ten thousand individuals, and the displacement of three million others from their homes, One Justice emphasizes the urgent need for the parties involved in the conflict to adhere to the rules and provisions of international humanitarian law, international human rights law, and all relevant international agreements and conventions. These frameworks emphasize the protection of civilians and prohibit any hostile acts that may cause them harm, whether indiscriminately or intentionally.

According to the monitoring conducted by One Justice, the parties to the conflict have committed a wide range of grave violations of the Fourth Geneva Convention of 1949 and its Additional Protocol I of 1977. These violations include indiscriminate shelling of civilian areas, the use of cluster munitions that are prohibited by many countries worldwide due to their indiscriminate killing and injury of civilians, targeting protected objects such as hospitals and schools, and mistreatment of prisoners of war. The organization considers that a significant number of these violations may amount to war crimes under the Rome Statute of the International Criminal Court.

In light of the ongoing humanitarian crisis caused by the continuing conflict in Ukraine, the One Justice Organization:

1. Urges the parties to the conflict to cease hostilities, protect civilians and civilian objects from attack, and ensure compliance with the rules of international humanitarian law, particularly the Third Geneva Convention concerning the treatment of prisoners of war and the Fourth Geneva Convention regarding the protection of civilians during wartime.
2. Urges the international community to intensify diplomatic efforts to find a peaceful solution to the tragic conflict in Ukraine and provide humanitarian assistance to civilians affected by the conflict.

One Justice Organization – France

May 14, 2023