This week in Kyiv, the forum “Combating Discrimination and Hate Crimes: European Standards of Human Rights Protection” took place, organized by Gender Stream in cooperation with the Council of Europe and the Office of the Commissioner for Human Rights. The event served as a vital platform for discussing pressing issues related to combating discrimination and implementing European human rights protection standards in Ukraine. A key focus was placed on Bill No. 5488, which aims to strengthen the protection of vulnerable groups from hate crimes.
One of the forum’s key speakers, Deputy Minister of Internal Affairs Kateryna Pavlichenko, voiced the Ministry’s clear stance on supporting this bill. She emphasized the importance of Bill No. 5488 for Ukrainian society and its role in combating discrimination:
“This is one of the few governmental bills that has received significant attention and widespread public support. Bill No. 5488 was introduced by the Ministry of Internal Affairs of Ukraine and is a priority on the list of legislative initiatives from the Ministry,” she stated.
Kateryna Pavlichenko highlighted that this bill is aimed not only at fulfilling Ukraine’s international obligations to the European community but also at protecting the rights of all social groups facing discrimination and hate in Ukraine. She emphasized the broad spectrum of people it seeks to protect:
“Bill 5488 is not designed to protect only one narrow category; it concerns all vulnerable groups whose representatives may face discrimination — national minorities, people with disabilities, the veteran community, LGBTQI+ individuals, and many others.”
The adoption of this bill will be a crucial step toward strengthening safety and protecting human rights in Ukraine. It not only ensures fair punishment for hate crimes but also plays a preventive role by helping to reduce discrimination in society.
The forum also underscored the importance of broad collaboration between governmental institutions and civil society organizations for the successful advocacy and implementation of Bill No. 5488. Among the topics discussed were next steps in training law enforcement officers responsible for correctly applying the legislation, as well as developing methods for effectively investigating and preventing hate crimes.
Gender Stream expresses gratitude to all forum participants for their active involvement in the discussion and for their dedication to the cause of human rights protection in Ukraine. Your support is an essential part of our collective path toward building a fair, safe, and equal society for all.
Gender Stream will continue to work on advancing Bill No. 5488 to ensure its adoption and successful implementation. Together, we can build a Ukraine where everyone is protected from discrimination and hate crimes at the legislative level.