Statements in 2026
Here you will find all Statements by Denmark in the OSCE in 2026.
Here you will find all Statements by Denmark in the OSCE in 2026.
Thank you, Mr. Chair,
While we fully align with the statements of the European Union and the Nordic-Baltic Eight, please allow me to add the following in my national capacity.
Mr. Chair,
Today, we mark Ukraine’s 35th Independence Day. A day that ought to be one full of joy and celebration.
However, it also marks four and a half years since Russia launched its illegal full-scale invasion. Four and a half years of Ukrainians being killed, injured, displaced and deprived of their homes.
So instead of celebrating, Ukraine is forced to defend itself against an aggressor trying to redraw borders by force. Against an aggressor that shows complete disregard for human rights, International Law and International Humanitarian Law.
Mr. Chair,
The scale of the human suffering is truly horrific. The UN has verified that at least 65,000 Ukrainian civilians – including almost 4,000 children – have been killed or injured since Russia’s full-scale invasion.
Credible reports also document how civilians have been forcibly disappeared for weeks, months, or years at a time, many subjected to torture and ill-treatment. Because their children spoke Ukrainian at school. Because they refused to acquire Russian identity documents. Because they disapproved of this senseless and illegal war.
We call on Russia to immediately and unconditionally release all Ukrainian prisoners arbitrarily detained.
The Moscow Mechanisms, ODIHR and multiple UN bodies have also documented that Russia subjects Ukrainian Prisoners of War to systematic torture and ill treatment, including conflict-related sexual violence. Reports of captured soldiers being summarily executed are particularly alarming.
Denmark condemns Russia’s killings, torture and ill-treatment of civilians and POWs in the strongest possible terms. POWs must be treated humanely and in accordance with International Humanitarian Law, at all times, and by all parties.
Those responsible for violations and crimes must be held to account. There can be no lasting peace without justice and accountability.
Mr. Chair,
Four and a half years into this war, the Ukrainian people continue to defend their country, their freedom and their right to determine their own future.
Denmark will continue to stand firmly with Ukraine. We will continue to provide humanitarian, economic and military support, and to contribute to Ukraine’s ability to defend itself and its people.
And we will continue to increase our pressure on Russia as long as the Kremlin refuses to stop its war of choice.
The Danish Prime Minister highlighted this as soon as yesterday, during her visit to Kyiv together with the leaders of the Nordic-Baltic Eight. And the Danish Foreign Minister will reiterate this during his address to the UN Security Council later today.
Because what is at stake in Ukraine reaches far beyond Ukraine.
The outcome of this war will have consequences for the security of the entire OSCE region and it will test the very principles enshrined in the Helsinki Final Act. It will determine whether borders can be changed by force, whether international law can be disregarded with impunity and whether the commitments we have made to one another still carry meaning.
Mr. Chair,
Russia, alone, started this war. Russia, alone, could stop the suffering today if it so chooses.
Denmark therefore once again calls on Russia to immediately, completely and unconditionally withdraw its forces from the entire territory of Ukraine.
As a first step, Russia must accept an immediate, unconditional and comprehensive ceasefire, and engage seriously and in good faith in negotiations towards a comprehensive, just and lasting peace.
Ukraine has repeatedly demonstrated its willingness to pursue peace.
Mr. Chair
On Ukraine’s Independence Day, as any other day, Denmark stands firmly with the Ukrainian people and their right to determine their own future.
I thank you, Chair.
Thank you, Mr. Chair,
I have the honour of delivering this statement on behalf of the
following 40 participating states: Albania, Andorra, Bosnia
Herzegovina, Canada, Iceland, Liechtenstein, Moldova,
Montenegro, North Macedonia, Norway, San Marino, Ukraine,
United Kingdom, and the European Union and its Member
States, including my own country, Denmark.
The International Day in Support of Victims of Torture provides
us with an opportunity to reaffirm our unwavering commitment
to prevent and eradicate torture and other cruel, inhuman or
degrading treatment or punishment. The prohibition of torture
under international law is absolute and unconditional.
Civil society organisations, human rights defenders, media and
international bodies have all reported the use of torture by a
number of participating States.
There can be no doubt that torture is a grave assault on human
dignity. Yet worryingly, such acts continue to be perpetrated in
the OSCE region.
Such practices stand in stark contrast to the spirit of the
Helsinki Final Act and to the human rights commitments that
all participating States have undertaken since.
***
Various international mechanisms, including the UN Human
Rights Monitoring Mission in Ukraine (HRMMU), the Independent
International Commission of Inquiry on Ukraine, the OSCE
Moscow Mechanism, and ODIHR report that members of Russia’s
forces have committed widespread and systematic acts of
torture and ill-treatment against prisoners of war and civilians.
Staggering accounts from Ukrainian prisoners of war and civilian
detainees describe torture and ill-treatment experienced during
detention by Russian authorities clearly indicating patterns of
systemic abuse.
In addition, the lack of Russian cooperation with independent
international monitoring mechanisms is alarming. Constrained
access to places of detention and external verification denies
redress for the victims. This is a continuation of the abuse.
In Belarus, the UN Group of Independent Experts on the Human
Rights Situation in 2026 documented widespread and systematic
torture and ill-treatment. This includes beatings, electric shocks,
forced psychiatric treatment, sexual violence, and inhumane
detention conditions.
We condemn these gross violations of human rights and
international humanitarian law in the strongest possible terms.
We regret the decision of the Russian Federation to withdraw
from the European Convention for the Prevention of Torture and
Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment (ECPT) and
urge them to reconsider before the withdrawal becomes
effective by November this year.
We recall the commitments by all participating States
undertaken in the 2020 Tirana Ministerial Council Decision on
the Prevention and Eradication of Torture and Other Cruel,
Inhumane or Degrading Treatment or Punishment, and call for
their full implementation throughout the OSCE region.
These commitments are unequivocal: no exceptional
circumstances, whether armed conflict, security concerns or
states of emergency, can ever justify torture.
We welcome the Swiss Chairpersonship's important work
developing a Roadmap on the Prevention and Eradication of
Torture in the OSCE region.
***
Mr. Chair,
Torture does not end when the act itself ends. It leaves victims
and survivors with deep, long-lasting trauma, affecting them
both physically and psychologically. And its impact extends to
families, communities, and societies as a whole.
Fighting torture and ensuring accountability requires a joint
effort, grounded in a victim- and survivor-centred approach.
Victims and survivors must have access to effective remedies,
including justice, redress and rehabilitation. This includes
ensuring access to appropriate medical, psychological and social
support, particularly for victims of sexualized torture, conflict
related sexual violence and other forms of gender-based abuse.
We welcome the survivor-centred approach reflected in the
Charter of Rights of Victims and Survivors of Torture as
presented by the UN Special Rapporteur on torture.
Independent and impartial efforts to document, investigate and
prosecute such violations remain essential. The relevant OSCE,
UN and other international accountability mechanisms play an
important role in this regard.
To this end we recognize the important, autonomous mandate
of ODIHR and their valuable contributions towards efforts to
combat torture and uphold human rights across the OSCE
region.
We urge the participating States that have not yet done so to
sign and ratify the UN Convention Against Torture (UNCAT) as
well as its Optional Protocol (OPCAT)
***
Mr. Chair,
We as participating States must continue to advance our efforts.
And in these efforts, the needs of victims and survivors have to
come first.
We further encourage investigation and documentation of
allegations of torture and other ill-treatment, including sexual
violence, to align with the “Méndez Principles” that outline
Principles on Effective Interviewing for Investigations and
Information Gathering.
We urge all participating States to use all appropriate measures
to prevent torture and other cruel, inhuman, or degrading
treatment or punishment and to apply international standards
such as the UN Standard Minimum Rules for the Treatment of
Prisoners, the UN Rules for the Treatment of Women Prisoners
and Non-custodial Measures for Women Offenders (the so-called
Bangkok Rules), the UN Standard Minimum Rules for the
Administration of Juvenile Justice (the so-called Beijing Rules)
and the UN Rules for the Protection of Juveniles Deprived of their
Liberty.
***
Mr. Chair,
In closing, we jointly reaffirm our unwavering commitment to
the absolute prohibition of torture and to strengthening our
efforts to eradicate its use across the OSCE region.
We owe that to the people of our region.
I thank you.