The NGO Gender Stream and ZMINA Human Rights Center has spearheaded an appeal from various human rights organizations to the Verkhovna Rada, urging the adoption of Draft Law No. 5488 “On Amendments to the Code of Ukraine on Administrative Offenses and the Criminal Code of Ukraine Regarding Combating Discrimination”.
Today, May 13, commemorates the precise three-year anniversary since the registration of draft law No. 5488 in the Verkhovna Rada. Its adoption holds the potential to catalyze numerous beneficial processes:
– Decreasing of discrimination against socially vulnerable groups.
– Enhancement of mechanisms to respond to and investigate hate crimes.
– Addressing legal loopholes by incorporating grounds such as sexual orientation and gender identity (SOGI), disability, ethnic, and social origin.
– Promoting a positive perception of Ukraine and fostering collaboration with other states and international organizations.
Despite receiving a favorable assessment from the specialized parliamentary committee, inclusion of Draft Law No. 5488 in the agenda of the current parliamentary session, and its recognition as a necessary for European integration, the Ukrainian Parliament has yet to deliberate on it.
The Statement was signed by 30 organizations and activists dedicated to safeguarding internally displaced persons, individuals with disabilities, migrants, national and ethnic communities, LGBTQI+ individuals, and other socially vulnerable groups. We advocate for the adoption of this pivotal draft law as a stride towards nurturing a democratic and inclusive Ukrainian society.
Let’s not delay Ukraine’s European future any longer!