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Ukraine Ukraine: Prison Sues Leading Rights Organization Case Threatens Free Speech and Human Rights Work Prison officials in Vinnitsia, Ukraine, should immediately withdraw a lawsuit against a prominent Ukrainian human rights organization, Human Rights Watch said today. July 24, 2008 Press Release Also available in 
Printer friendly version Universal Periodic Review of Ukraine Human Rights Watch's Submission to the Human Rights Council This submission summarizes Human Rights Watch’s key concerns with Ukraine’s compliance with its international obligations in the context of four areas that have been the focus of Human Rights Watch’s work in recent years – human rights abuses fueling the HIV/AIDS epidemic, as well as discrimination against women in employment, media freedoms, and the treatment of migrants. May 5, 2008 Written Statement Printer friendly version Committee against Torture Review of Ukraine United Nations Committee against Torture A letter to the Committee against Torture in advance of its review of Ukraine, in which key areas of concern not already reflected in its “List of issues” are highlighted in the hope of seeing them taken up during the review. These include the forcible return of Uzbek asylum seekers, migration and asylum policy, and police torture and other ill-treatment undermining efforts to combat HIV/AIDS. April 26, 2007 Letter Printer friendly version Ukraine: End Human Rights Abuses Fueling HIV/AIDS Letter to E.U. President Matti Vanhanen regarding E.U.-Ukraine Summit Meeting Letter urging Vanhanen to use the E.U.-Ukraine Summit meeting on October 27th to seek concrete commitments from the Ukrainian government to improve its record on guaranteeing fundamental human rights protections for people living with and at high risk of HIV/AIDS. October 24, 2006 Letter Printer friendly version Managing Migration Means Potential EU Complicity in Neighboring States’ Abuse of Migrants and Refugees European Union efforts to shift responsibility for migration to countries beyond EU borders threaten the human rights of migrants, asylum seekers, and refugees. Current EU migration polices are largely focused on keeping migrants and asylum seekers outside EU borders. However, these policies have failed to ensure that the rights of migrants and asylum seekers are respected, particularly in neighboring transit countries to the east or across the Mediterranean. This paper concentrates on the less well-known “external” dimension of the EU’s efforts, which rely on a mixture of assistance and pressure in order to shift responsibility for refugees, migrants, and asylum-seekers to transit countries, such as Ukraine or Libya, and regions of origin. October 17, 2006 Background Briefing Review of Ukraine’s Compliance with the ICCPR A letter to the United Nations Human Rights Committee to guide their upcoming review of Ukraine’s compliance with the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR). Human Rights Watch highlights key issues of concern with respect to abuses fueling Ukraine’s HIV/AIDS epidemic, including torture and other ill-treatment by police and discrimination by health care providers; the forcible return of Uzbek asylum seekers; and other violations of the rights of migrants and asylum seekers. October 16, 2006 Letter Printer friendly version Ukraine: Anti-AIDS Efforts Undermined by Rights Abuses The Ukrainian government’s considerable efforts to combat Europe’s worst HIV/AIDS epidemic are being undermined by its failure to end persistent violence and discrimination against people at highest risk of infection, Human Rights Watch said in a report released today. March 2, 2006 Press Release Also available in 
Printer friendly version Rhetoric and Risk Human Rights Abuses Impeding Ukraine’s Fight Against HIV/AIDS This report documents how draconian drug laws and routine police abuse of injection drug users – the population hardest hit by HIV/AIDS in Ukraine – keep them from receiving lifesaving HIV information and services that the government has pledged to provide. HRW Index No.: D1802 March 2, 2006 Report Also available in
Download PDF, 496 KB, 86 pgs Purchase online Read Press Release Ukraine: Uzbek Asylum Seekers Sent Back to Face Abuse HRW Letter to President Yushchenko I am writing to express Human Rights Watch’s serious concerns about the Ukrainian government’s forced return of ten asylum-seekers to Uzbekistan on the night of February 14-15, in violation of international law. February 22, 2006 Letter Printer friendly version Ukraine: Uzbek Asylum Seekers Sent Back to Face Abuse Ukraine has deported 10 asylum seekers to Uzbekistan, where they face torture and abuse, Human Rights Watch said today. These deportations violate international law. February 17, 2006 Press Release Printer friendly version Ukraine: Migrants, Asylum Seekers Regularly Abused EU Policies Toward Migration Are Key to Tackling Problem Ukraine regularly subjects migrants and asylum seekers to abuse, including extended detention in appalling conditions, violence, extortion, robbery and forced returns to face torture or persecution, Human Rights Watch said in a report released today on the eve of the EU-Ukraine summit. November 30, 2005 Press Release Also available in
Printer friendly version Ukraine: On the Margins Rights Violations against Migrants and Asylum Seekers at the New Eastern Border of the European Union This 77-page report documents the routine detention of migrants and asylum in appalling conditions, including severe overcrowding, frequently inadequate bedding and clothing, and little or no access to fresh air, exercise and medical treatment. The report also documents the physical abuse, verbal harassment, robbery and extortion suffered by those in detention. Migrants and asylum seekers in detention often have no access to a lawyer and are unable to apply for release. The asylum system is barely functioning, leading to the forced return of people to countries where they face persecution or torture. HRW Index No.: D1708 November 30, 2005 Report Download PDF, 995 KB, 80 pgs Purchase online Read Press Release International Organization for Migration (IOM): Establish Policies to Ensure Adequate Account of the Rights of Migrants Statement to the IOM and its Member States at the 2005 Governing Council Meeting (90th Session) Human Rights Watch urges the Governing Council to take a much more active and critical role in evaluating IOM activities in countries where the asylum system and/or immigration policy and practice routinely deny the right to seek asylum and violate refugees’ and migrants’ rights. IOM cannot be guided disproportionately by the dictates of individual Member States that are willing to fund projects that promote their particular state interests, but which do not necessarily take fully into account the rights of migrant and refugee populations. November 29, 2005 Press Release Printer friendly version Ukraine: Drug Law Reforms Would Threaten HIV/AIDS Fight Letter to President Yushchenko Opposing Proposed Drug Reclassification Human Rights Watch expresses deep concern about proposed amendments to Ukraine's drug classification tables, which would revise the standards for criminal possession of illicit drugs to criminalize the possession of very small amounts of certain narcotics. The use of illicit opiates constitutes a serious public health issue in Ukraine, not least because those who inject opiates account for a substantial share of HIV/AIDS cases in the country. Human Rights Watch is concerned that if adopted, the proposed amendments would damage Ukraine's efforts to fight HIV/AIDS by driving those most vulnerable to HIV infection away from HIV prevention services and exposing many to health risks in prison that would put them at risk of HIV or accelerate existing HIV infection. August 3, 2005 Letter Also available in
Printer friendly version Ukraine: Banning methadone would jeopardize HIV/AIDS fight Letter to Prime Minister Timoshenko opposing anti-methadone proposal Human Rights Watch expresses deep concern about recent reports that the Ukrainian Cabinet of Ministers has proposed amending the list of scheduled drugs to reclassify methadone as a prohibited narcotic substance, thus barring its use for therapeutic purposes. This proposal contradicts recommendations from international health and drug enforcement bodies, which have advised the use of substitution therapy, including with methadone, as an integral part of HIV/AIDS prevention and treatment programs. July 15, 2005 Letter Also available in
Printer friendly version Opportunity for Reform: Human Rights Agenda for Ukraine Letter to President Yushchenko Human Rights Watch believes that your election and the formation of a new government mark an important opportunity to break with past shortcomings in Ukraine’s respect for human rights. We urge you to seize this opportunity, and embark on legislative and policy reform and the promotion of practices that will firmly establish, as a central feature of your administration, the full enjoyment of human rights by all people in Ukraine. January 21, 2005 Letter Also available in
Printer friendly version Ukraine: A New Chance for Human Rights President-Elect Should Hold to His Pledges on Ensuring Rights This Sunday’s inauguration of Viktor Yushchenko as president marks an important opportunity to break with past shortcomings in respect for human rights in Ukraine, Human Rights Watch said today in an open letter to the president-elect. January 21, 2005 Press Release Also available in
Printer friendly version Beyond Ukraine, a Grim Picture Post-Soviet Democracy By Rachel Denber, Acting Executive Director, Human Rights Watch's Europe and Central Asia division Published in The International Herald Tribune Elections in the former Soviet Union are stolen all the time, but governments get away with it by stifling democratic institutions. Western leaders need to support struggling civil societies in the region, before there is nothing left to support. December 29, 2004 Commentary Printer friendly version Ukrainian Media Asserts Independence but Risks Remain An easing of the Ukrainian government’s stranglehold on the media is welcome, but may not be enough to counteract the effect of prior censorship before the new run-off elections for the presidency, Human Rights Watch said today. December 24, 2004 Press Release Also available in
Printer friendly version Ukraine: Attacks on Press Aim to Stifle Debate Press Freedom Essential to Free Elections Attacks and harassment against journalists in parts of Ukraine appear aimed at stifling public debate during the country’s political crisis, Human Rights Watch said today. Ukrainian authorities must respect press freedom to ensure the integrity of the new presidential election. December 4, 2004 Press Release Printer friendly version |
 
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