In April 2025, the Gender Stream team, in partnership with the Ministry of Internal Affairs of Ukraine, conducted a series of trainings focused on hate crimes for representatives of law enforcement agencies.
This initiative is part of our long-term effort to strengthen the capacity of law enforcement officers to respond effectively to violence, discrimination, and bias targeting the LGBTQI+ community.
We believe that a truly safe country is built not only on strong institutions, but also on empathy, respect for human rights, and a willingness to listen. Real change starts here.
Why are these trainings necessary?
Ukraine still lacks an effective mechanism for recording and investigating hate crimes. In many cases, such crimes are not recognized as a separate category, their motives are ignored or downplayed, and survivors are left without adequate protection.
Draft Law No. 5488, which we actively support, aims to fill this gap by introducing bias-motivated intent—including on the basis of sexual orientation, gender identity, gender, disability, and other grounds—into the Criminal Code. However, until the law is adopted, professional training for law enforcement remains the only way to ensure a more sensitive and just response.
What did the trainings involve?
Two groups of law enforcement professionals from across Ukraine took part in the trainings.
The program combined theoretical knowledge with real case analysis, discussions of common mistakes, and practical problem-solving for complex scenarios. Special attention was given to understanding what hate crimes are, how to identify them, and why conventional response protocols often fail when dealing with LGBTQI+ cases.
We explored hate speech, communication barriers, and the fears survivors face when approaching the police and worked together to find ways to build trust and drive change from within the system.
What’s next?
These trainings are not the first and they certainly won’t be the last. We’re already planning the next sessions to ensure more professionals are equipped with the knowledge and tools they need to respond to hate-motivated crimes with sensitivity and professionalism.
We’ll continue advocating for the adoption of Draft Law No. 5488, supporting survivors, building partnerships, and shaping public discourse because every person in Ukraine has the right to safety, regardless of who they are, how they look, or whom they love.
The training “Police of Equality: Practical Tools for Combating Hate Crimes” was organized and conducted by the NGO Gender Stream with financial support from the Embassy of the Kingdom of the Netherlands in Ukraine.