Russia-Ukraine war exposed double standards in human rights, report says

Russia’s invasion of Ukraine has reportedly exposed the double standards of the state of human rights in the world. The West has taken a strong stance in responding against Russian aggression while staying quiet about human rights abuses happening elsewhere, according to the report.

Rights group Amnesty International published its annual 2022 report on Tuesday on the state of human rights in 156 countries. Amnesty International chief Agnes Callamard told Al Jazeera in Paris on Monday that the war in Ukraine showed how the world united to support Kyiv. However, Callamard added that such support was not present for the people in Palestine, Ethiopia, Myanmar, and the Democratic Republic of Congo.

Callamard went on to say that the international response to Russia’s invasion of Ukraine was “robust and welcomed,” with public condemnations and calls against the war crimes that were being committed in Ukraine. Callamard noted the international actions to support the international probe into potential war crimes and that the International Criminal Court made the unusual move of intervening quickly.

Callamard explained that the strong reactions to Russia’s war in Ukraine were so “multifaceted” it made the “silence, the indifference, and the neglect very glaring” when compared to other instances of human rights abuses. Callamard especially highlighted the occupation of the Palestinians as an example of the double standards when it came to human rights in the world.

“Without making any comparison between Russia’s aggression and Israel…it is clear the Palestinian people are under a regime of oppression. A regime of occupation and a regime of apartheid” said Callamard. “At a time when the international community did so much…for the people of Ukraine, the people of Palestine lived through the most deadly year in decades.”

The report also criticized Europe’s approach and attitude toward Ukrainian refugees compared to refugees from other countries.

“Generous reception of most people from Ukraine stood in sharp contrast to the often violent rejection and abuse of refugees and migrants from Europe’s external borders,” said the report. “This double standard revealed the racism inherent in EU external border policy and practice.”

Meanwhile, US and French analysts have said Russia has sought to target Ukraine’s allies in its cyberattacks after failing to wage a cyber war with Kyiv. French defense firm Thales said in a report on Wednesday that Moscow was targeting Poland, the Nordic, and the Baltic countries with cyberweapons that sought to sow division and promote anti-war messages.