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Ukraine: Acting Now to End Systematic Persecution of Roma
According to UN experts
GENEVA (July 18, 2018) – Ukraine must take immediate action
an action to stop what amounts to
persecution "of the country's Roma minority, who
been targeted in a series of violent attacks, says a group
United Nations human rights experts *.
"We are unequivocal
condemn these heinous acts of intimidation and violence
against members of the Roma minority in Ukraine. We are too
seriously concerned by the growing hatred and
racial violence against this community – and
especially against its most vulnerable members, women and
children, "said the UN experts
.
April 2018, and allegedly perpetrated by members of
groups of the far right. Targets included women and
children who were attacked in different parts of the
countries, including the capital Kyiv, as well as in Kharkiv,
Ternopil and Lviv
Roma settlements burned
and residents intimidated, assaulted and forced to leave
Their houses. It is reported that the authors have been
members of far right groups, such as the so-called
"Sich-C14" and the "National Brigades".
One
nobody was stabbed to death and four others injured in a
separate attack on a settlement in Lviv. In the village of
Velyka Berezovytsia in Ternopil, shots were fired at Roma
residents who were also intimidated and assaulted. the
the majority of people present at the time were children.
The subject persons also included a lawyer who was working on
a case of violence against Roma residents. A
local prosecutor, with three masked men, broke into
his office, threatened and physically assaulted to try
to stop him from working on the case.
"These
the attacks demonstrate a worrying pattern of systematic
the persecution of Roma in Ukraine, aggravated by the rise of hatred
speech and stigma, which seems to be nurtured by
the current political and economic situation in the
countries, "said the UN experts.
" We deplore
lack of effective measures to protect Roma
minority against such actions by the Ukrainian authorities,
and in particular by the national and local police. We are
also concerned to hear allegations of a prevailing climate
of impunity and lack of responsibility without prompting,
a thorough and impartial investigation into such
acts ", emphasize the experts.
" It is important that
such hatred and racially motivated crimes are indeed
prosecution, with the aggravated grounds of
& # 39; Racial, national or religious enmity or hostility & # 39;
taken into account, instead of just being considered
& # 39; & # 39 ;. Hooliganism
"Forced evictions triggered by
the destruction and burning of houses are a flagrant violation
human rights and must be the subject of a thorough investigation
pursued, "added the experts.
The UN experts note
that the Minister of the Interior, the Commissioner for Human Rights
The rights of the Ukrainian Parliament and the Ombudsman
publicly denounced the attacks.
"We urge
Ukrainian authorities to take all appropriate measures
to respect their international obligations in the field of human rights,
particularly as regards the protection of the rights of
individuals belonging to national, ethnic, religious or
linguistic minorities. They must investigate all attacks
against the Roma minority, and provide remedies to all
damages, including adequate compensation for the victims. Those
who lost their homes and belongings during the attacks must
have a safe and secure alternative housing
competent authorities, until adequate compensation is granted. "
" In our opinion, coordinated and sustained actions are needed.
necessary to prevent such attacks, to guarantee justice and
l & # 39; impunity. "
UN experts have been in contact with
the Government of Ukraine to seek clarification
case information.
END
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