• Human Rights in Ukraine
    In 2011 Ukraine adopted reforms to facilitate closer association with the European Union, adopting laws on access to information and refugee protection. Former Prime Minister Yulia Tymoshenko’s politically-motivated trial, conviction, and imprisonment jeopardized Ukraine’s prospects of concluding an EU Association Agreement, and the arrest and trial of multiple former government officials undermined confidence in the judiciary’s independence. Despite legislative reforms, the situation for journalists and media outlets deteriorated, and civil society activists were threatened by law enforcement officials in what appeared to be retaliation for their work. Each year, tens of thousands of patients with advanced cancer in Ukraine unnecessarily suffer from severe pain because pain treatment is often inaccessible. Asylum seekers remain vulnerable to arbitrary detention, police harassment, and torture.

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Ukraine

  • Ukraine: Investigate Attacks on Peaceful Protest
    Dec 18, 2012
    The Ukrainian government should condemn homophobic speech and attacks on a peaceful protest in Kiev on December 8, 2012.
  • Ukraine: Situation brief for Universal Periodic Review
    Nov 2, 2012
  • Ukraine: Investigate Disappearance of Asylum Seeker
    Oct 24, 2012
    Ukrainian authorities should initiate a prompt and impartial investigation into the disappearance from Ukraine on October 19, 2012, of a Russian asylum seeker.
  • ‘Traditional Values’ code for human rights abuse?
    Oct 17, 2012
    The U.N. Human Rights Council recently passed a resolution on “traditional values of humankind” as a vehicle for “promoting human rights and fundamental freedoms.” It sounds innocuous, but its implications are ominous. Indeed, it is an immediate threat to the rights of many vulnerable groups – including women and lesbian, gay, bi-sexual and transgender (LGBT) people. And it flies in the face of the founding principles of universality and indivisibility enshrined in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights.
  • Ukraine: Letter to Chairman of the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine
    Oct 16, 2012
    The provisions of the proposed law violate fundamental human rights, including the rights to freedom of expression, association and peaceful assembly. Should the law be enacted, it will create an unacceptable environment of state-promoted discrimination against lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) people, including those under 18 years of age. This draft law would also endanger the rights of human rights defenders to engage in human rights work regarding the rights of LGBT people.
  • Ukraine: Investigate Brutal Attack on Gay Activist
    Jun 25, 2012
    Ukrainian authorities should immediately conduct a thorough investigation into a vicious attack on a leading lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) rights activist.
  • Ukraine: Reject Discriminatory Laws
    Jun 25, 2012
    Amnesty International and Human Rights Watch on June 25, 2012 wrote to the chairman of the Ukrainian parliament, Volodymyr Litvin, to call on parliament to reject two draft laws that would directly contravene Ukraine’s obligations under European and international human rights treaties to protect the right to non-discrimination, including on the ground of sexual orientation, to equality before the law, and to freedom of expression, association and peaceful assembly.
  • A few more goals for Ukraine
    Jun 11, 2012
    Ukraine is about more than Yulia Tymoshenko and a soccer tournament. That is surely running through the minds of Ukrainian officials as the European football championships, hosted by Ukraine and Poland, start.
  • Ukraine: Investigate Alleged Beating of Tymoshenko
    Apr 30, 2012
    The Ukrainian authorities should conduct a prompt, impartial, and thorough investigation into allegations that Yulia Tymoshenko was beaten by guards at the penal colony where she is being held.
  • Ukraine: Stop Harassing Somali Asylum Seekers
    Feb 1, 2012
    The Ukrainian authorities should immediately stop police harassment and threats against Somali asylum seekers held at the Zhuravychi Migrant Accommodation Centre.
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