Call to add russia to the UN’s shame list: Ukrainian NGOs send letter to UN Secretary-General

Four Ukrainian non-governmental organizations – SEMA Ukraine, Alumni, December 29th, and Numo, Sisters – appealed to the UN Secretary-General, demanding that the russian federation be added to the ‘shame list’ for its systematic war crimes in temporarily occupied territories.

Liudmyla Huseinova, head of Numo, Sisters NGO, announced this during a briefing at the Media Center Ukraine.

“I want the example I’m about to give to be powerful so we can help the world understand the horrific war crimes that russia is committing in the temporarily occupied territories. I am talking about the appeal of four organizations – SEMA Ukraine, Alumni, December 29th, and Numo, Sisters – which have joined forces to send a letter to UN Secretary-General António Guterres, demanding russia’s inclusion in the ‘shame list’. We know the UN will release a report in a few months, and we strongly hope Guterres will take this step. We know he has already received our letter,” she stated.

Huseinova emphasized that adding russia to this list is a matter of justice and safety, both for former prisoners of war and those still detained, and for civilians in temporarily occupied territories.

“Including russia on the UN’s shame list will preserve our dignity and prevent the erosion of our faith in justice. A country on this list and its military personnel would be barred from participating in any peacekeeping operations,” she stressed.

Huseinova also expressed confidence that such a move by the UN would prevent victims of war crimes from encountering their torturers again.

“We cannot allow a situation in which, during advocacy trips worldwide, we come face-to-face with those who tortured or raped us. We want russian military personnel and those who worked for the russian federation to have no such opportunity,” she said.

Huseinova stressed that it’s not just about protecting survivors; it’s also about empowering other victims who are still afraid to speak out.

“This is our safety. We understand that these actions ensure the safety of those present here today and those we eagerly await from captivity, as well as those currently in temporarily occupied territories. It’s also about global safety because knowing that torturers will be punished and that justice exists will give other victims – those who are currently afraid to speak out for various reasons – the opportunity and strength to come forward. I deeply believe in this,” she concluded.

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