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The U.N. General Assembly on Thursday adopted with overwhelming support a resolution calling for the protection of civilians in war-torn Ukraine and urging Russia to stop its aggression.
A total of 140 countries backed the document on the humanitarian consequences of Russia’s military campaign, with Russia and four other countries voting against it and 38 countries including China and India abstaining. The results followed a classic pattern of voting behavior in key resolutions drafted by Western countries.
The resolution, initiated by France and Mexico, was jointly proposed by more than 80 countries including Britain, Japan and the United States.
The four other countries voting in opposition were Belarus, which supports Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, Eritrea, North Korea and Syria.
The resolution expresses “grave concern at the deteriorating humanitarian situation in and around Ukraine, in particular at the high number of civilian casualties, including women and children, and the increasing number of internally displaced persons and refugees in need of humanitarian assistance.”
It also notes “the need to protect, without discrimination of any kind, the safety, dignity, human rights and fundamental freedoms of people fleeing the conflict and violence, regardless of their status,” while “strongly condemning any attacks directed against civilians.”
The resolution is symbolic as it is not legally binding, unlike U.N. Security Council resolutions.
In an emergency special session earlier this month, the General Assembly adopted a resolution condemning the Russian invasion and demanding an immediate withdrawal from Ukraine, with 141 countries voting in support.
The emergency special session resumed on Wednesday to discuss the resolution on humanitarian consequences.
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