Council of Europe Highlights Ukraine's Equality Advances, Urges Stronger Protections for Roma and LGBTQ+ Communities

European Commission Against Racism and Intolerance Issues Sixth Report on Ukraine

According to Рубрика — Суспільство: On October 21 in Strasbourg, the Council of Europe's European Commission against Racism and Intolerance (ECRI) released its sixth report evaluating Ukraine's progress on equality. The document recognizes notable improvements, including the enhanced role of Ukraine's Parliamentary Commissioner for Human Rights and expanded police training focused on investigating hate crimes. The adoption of inclusion strategies for the Roma community also reflects Ukraine’s ongoing governmental efforts in this area.

While societal attitudes toward LGBTQ+ equality have significantly improved, the report emphasizes that both Roma and LGBTQ+ individuals remain vulnerable to hate speech. ECRI presented 15 recommendations to Ukrainian authorities, with top priorities being:

• launching public awareness campaigns to combat hate speech;
• ensuring Roma individuals receive proper identity documentation.

Progress on these measures will be reviewed during an interim monitoring phase within two years of the report’s publication.

Additional recommendations include combating LGBTQ+ bullying in schools, improving healthcare access, and guaranteeing quality education for Roma children. The Commission also called for adequate staffing and financial support to empower the Parliamentary Commissioner for Human Rights in fulfilling their mandate effectively. Covering the period from June 2017 through March 2026, the report excludes conditions in temporarily occupied regions of Ukraine and the situation of Ukrainians living abroad.

Ukraine’s National Human Rights Strategy and International Role

President Volodymyr Zelensky has approved a National Human Rights Strategy comprising 25 actionable goals, which focus on protecting victims of Russian aggression, combating discrimination, and upholding the rights of the LGBTQ+ community. Furthermore, Ukraine secured a seat on the UN Human Rights Council for a three-year term from 2027 to 2029. Parliamentary Commissioner for Human Rights Dmytro Lubinets announced the opening of a Roma Integration Center in Mukachevo, demonstrating the state’s commitment to supporting Roma rights.

The ECRI report’s author highlighted that “many hate crimes continue to be misclassified and prosecuted as ordinary offenses, such as hooliganism.”

The report underscores the critical need to sustain efforts in protecting human rights across Ukraine and improve law enforcement expertise in handling hate crime investigations. The concrete recommendations provided to Ukrainian authorities could have a substantial impact on advancing the protection of vulnerable groups. Implementing these suggestions will be essential for fostering further progress in Ukraine’s human rights landscape.

As Ukraine continues to make strides in human rights, the recent approval of a comprehensive national strategy for human rights by President Zelensky outlines 25 specific goals aimed at enhancing citizen protection and supporting the country's European integration. This initiative complements the recommendations from the Council of Europe, emphasizing the ongoing commitment to improving the situation for marginalized communities, including Roma and LGBTQ+ individuals in Ukraine.