The Committee on Human Rights (CHR) of the U.S. National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine is greatly concerned by reports of indiscriminate military attacks in Ukraine that have included health facilities. Such attacks pose a grave risk to doctors, nurses, and patients, and they deprive those in need of essential services. Moreover, attacks on healthcare workers, hospitals, and other medical facilities are prohibited by international human rights and humanitarian law.

The CHR strongly supports global calls to respect and protect access to health care in Ukraine, and in all conflict settings, and reaffirms that healthcare workers providing needed care to the sick and injured must not be targeted. We welcome the decision taken by the Prosecutor of the International Criminal Court to open an investigation into possible war crimes committed by Russian military forces in Ukraine and to seek accountability for violations of international law. Such an investigation should include incidents of violence against healthcare and attacks on our colleagues.

COMMITTEE ON HUMAN RIGHTS

MARTIN CHALFIE†
Chair
Columbia University

CHRIS BEYRER
Johns Hopkins University

JOHN CARLSON
Yale University

GISELLE CORBIE-SMITH
University of North Carolina

CARLOS DEL RIO*
National Academy of Medicine
International Secretary

VANESSA NORTHINGTON GAMBLE
The George Washington University

WESLEY HARRIS
Massachusetts Institute of
Technology

JOHN HILDEBRAND*
National Academy of Sciences
International Secretary

ANDREA LIU
University of Pennsylvania

DOUGLAS MASSEY
Princeton University

DEB NIEMEIER
University of Maryland, College Park

JAMES M. TIEN*
National Academy of Engineering
International Secretary

† Nobel Laureate
* ex officio member

The views expressed are those of the Committee on Human Rights.

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• Collection of Resources to Support Ukraine’s Scientists, Engineers, and Health Care Workers