Russian aggression already killed 158 children, injured over 3,000 - ombudsperson
During a meeting with EU Special Representative for Human Rights Eamon Gilmore, Verkhovna Rada Human Rights Commissioner Liudmyla Denisova discussed respect for children's rights, ensuring gender equality, and the rights of national and sexual minorities.
Denisova reported about the meeting via her Telegram channel, Ukrinform reports.
"I noted that the protracted Russian-Ukrainian military conflict violates the fundamental right to life. As a result of Russian aggression, 158 children have already been killed and more than 3,000 – injured,” Denisova wrote.
She also addressed the challenges as regards children's rights in the context of decentralization reform in Ukraine and the process of deinstitutionalization of boarding schools.
"The lack of Children's Services in some newly created territorial communities remains a problem, leading to violations of children's rights and untimely response by government and local government officials," the ombudsperson said.
She added that Gilmore had inquired about the progress in the issue of Ukraine’s ratification of the Istanbul Convention.
"I stressed the fact that in my annual reports, I constantly recommend that the Ukrainian Parliament ratify the Convention. There is already a shift in this direction: together with the Government, non-government organizations, with the support of the First Lady, a bill on ratification of the Istanbul Convention has been drafted," Denisova reported.
She also shared her Office’s experience in monitoring the observance of rights of the Roma minority, "which revealed systemic violations of the right to education and health care, especially amid the COVID-19 pandemic."
The issues of observance of rights of the LGBT community were also discussed at the meeting.
"I noted cases I’ve been recording where their rights to protection against discriminatory acts, property and non-property rights are violated as it is impossible for them to conclude civil partnership. I informed my counterpart that for the second year already I’ve been insisting that the Parliament pass a bill on civil partnership that would cover not only homosexual couples but also heterosexual ones who share a home while remaining unable to exercise their rights," said Denisova.
The ombudsperson added she had agreed to continue the dialogue and exchange experiences with Gilmore.
As Ukrinform reported earlier, Eamon Gilmore said in an interview with Dom TV that the European Union was concerned about the situation of detainees in the temporarily occupied territories of Donetsk and Luhansk regions, calling on the occupation authorities to allow monitoring and access.
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