Irminger believes the plan should begin with a reform of the judiciary to ensure its independence as well as the independence of lawyers.
Cooperation with national NGOs
Ane Tusvik Bonde, Regional Manager,Caucasus and Eastern Europe adds that Ukraine is at a crucial point where the need for a strong civil society to push the national authorities is important. – Human Rights House Foundation cooperates with national NGOs to make sure that the message of the Ukrainian human rights defenders is heard and listened to internationally and nationally. A Human Rights House are hence to be established in Kiev by Ukrainian NGOs this year, she says.
Under the review, The Human Rights Committee recognised several areas of non-compliance with the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights.
Observations and recommendations from The Human Rights Committee
In the end of July, The Human Rights Committee adopted its concluding observations and recommendations on Ukraine, which reflect the contents of the discussion held during the review:
The issue of non-discrimination
Strong attention is given to the issue of non-discrimination, including discrimination against LGBT person and minority groups, particularly Roman and Crimean Tatar people. Ukraine is strongly requested to take adequate and efficient measures to combat hate speech and racist attacks against persons because of their sexual orientation or identity.
Equal rights and opportunities
Gender equality remains a serious issue in Ukraine and women remain largely unrepresented at highest spheres. Ukraine should adopt a State programme for equal rights and opportunities of women and man, and other measures aimed at ensuring gender equality, and effectively implement them.
The right to freedom of expression
Ukraine is requested to ensure the protection and safety of journalists and human rights defenders and to fully guarantee the right to freedom of expression.
Ukraine should guarantee that the independence of the judiciary is not subjected to any form of political influence or control by the executive power and that the procedures for the promotion, suspension or dismissal of judges are clearly specified.
The right to freedom of assembly
The Committeee is concerned at the lack of a domestic legal framework regulating peaceful events and at the application by domestic courts of outdated regulations which are not in line with international standards and severely restrict the right to freedom of assembly. It is also concerned at reports that the success rate of local authorities applications in court for banning peaceful assemblies may be as high as 90 per cent. The Committee notes that a draft law on the procedure for organizing and holding peaceful events has been recently submitted to Parliament.
Ukraine should take all necessary measures to establish legal mechanisms and appropriate procedures to give full effect to the Human Rights Committee’s view and decisions.
You can read more about the concluding observations on the review of Ukraine here.
About the review
