On December 29-30, Gender Stream held a training session titled «Protection of Human Rights and Effective Response to Hate Crimes» for law enforcement officers and representatives of civil organizations. Over the course of two days, together with experts Serhii Movchan and Sasha Romantsova, participants delved into pressing issues: how to identify hate crimes, how to respond to them, and how activists and the police can cooperate effectively.
«We must be those who not only point out problems, but also propose solutions. One of these problems is the lack of state protection against hate crimes. Even without official recognition, such crimes continue to occur. It is important for us not only to have constitutional support, but also to build trust within society, creating a sense of unconditional safety and reliability», explained Gender Stream.
During the training, Serhii Movchan explained how Ukrainian legislation addresses hate crimes and how to align with international standards. Sasha Romantsova demonstrated why hate crimes are more than just insults; they represent systemic discrimination. She reviewed European case studies and showed how they can serve as guidelines for Ukraine.
«We don’t want to just talk about change. We want to make change, and we are already doing so. This involves establishing dialogue between law enforcement and the civil sector. I am proud of our cooperation with the Department of Main Inspection and Human Rights Compliance», commented Olha Poliakova, head of the Gender Stream NGO.
This event also marked the beginning of a new project by Gender Stream — the «Vartovi» platform («Guardians»). «Hate crimes must be visible and heard, and we will ensure that everyone receives the necessary support and assistance», added the team.
The event was supported by HIAS in partnership with the Jewish Federations of North America (JFNA). The views expressed in this material do not necessarily reflect those of HIAS and JFNA.