For the first time in its history, Ukraine has achieved a significant success on the international stage: Anton Simkovich, a Ukrainian candidate, has been elected to the UN Subcommittee on the Prevention of Torture for the period 2027 to 2030. This marks a real breakthrough, as the competition was fierce — 22 candidates from 21 countries were vying for 13 vacant seats.
Ukraine received 60 votes and secured victory in the very first round of voting. As a result, alongside the Ukrainian candidate, the subcommittee now includes representatives from countries such as Ghana, Chile, Greece, Lebanon, Hungary, Montenegro, Togo, Uruguay, Peru, Latvia, Croatia and Moldova.
This election is of particular significance for Ukraine. Amid the ongoing conflict with Russia, thousands of Ukrainian prisoners of war and civilians, unlawfully detained by the Russian authorities, are being subjected to torture and ill-treatment. According to a new report prepared by Ukrainian human rights defenders and independent experts from Norway, it has been confirmed that at least 8,000 civilians are being held captive in the occupied territories and in Russia. This figure could be as high as 17,000.
The captives include people from various professions, such as civil servants, teachers, doctors, businesspeople and priests. The Geneva Conventions, to which Russia is a signatory, regulate the rights of prisoners of war and civilians, guaranteeing them protection. However, released Ukrainian prisoners of war have frequently reported torture and ill-treatment.
The rights of prisoners are regularly violated: people are starved, subjected to electric shock therapy, suffer sexualised violence and are prevented from contacting their families. Many of them receive unlawful sentences and are imprisoned for long periods. Anton Simkovich’s election to the UN Sub-Committee is not only recognition of Ukraine’s expertise in the field of human rights protection, but also offers hope for an improvement in the situation for those who have been taken captive.