Ukraine: a Government Must Take Measures for Stopping of Racial Discrimination

Joseph Bunta is one of many Africans and other foreign citizens, which was killed in Ukraine in latter days as a result of racist attacks. Research results, conducted Amnesty International in Ukraine, demonstrate defiant an alarm growth of number of attacking on people on racial, ethnic or religious reasons. Attacks accept a different form: from verbal to the serious physical attacks and even murders. In addition, each, who looks not «such as all», runs into frequent verifications of documents from the side of militia, which can make off extortion and other violations.

From growth of number of similar attacks there was an atmosphere of fear and unscreenedness, especially among refugees and suppliants of refuge. Amnesty International is disturbed absence of adequate reaction from the side of Ukrainian authorities. And although under influence of international criticism some measures are accepted however, responsible public servants demonstrate the clamant misunderstanding of nature of racial discrimination and scales of this problem in Ukraine.

Growth of number of racist crimes during 2007 strengthened the disturbance of embassies and international organizations in Kiev. Many foreign embassies began to warn the travelers of danger of violence on racial reasons in Ukraine. In April, 2007 Management of high commissioner UNO in matters of refugees (MHCF), International organization on migration (IOM), Amnesty International-Ukraine and other organizations created for the decision of this problem a group «Initiative for a variety». A group already offered to the government recommendations on practical measures and improvement of legislation.

Under influence of such external pressure a government created within the framework of existent ministries subdivisions on a struggle against racism and xenophobia. In spite of these measures, officials still deny existence of problem of racial discrimination, however, assuming that «domestic racism» takes place and there are «separate cases».

Frequently the culprits of the most cruel attacks authorities named «skinheads». In Ukraine, indeed, there are a few groups of skinheads, hearings the confession ideology of racism, neo-fascism and violence. However not every members of such groups are racists. Moreover, in Ukraine discrimination on soil of racism is not limited to activity of these groups, it is widespread far wider. And although in Ukraine the most noticeable displays of racism are cruel attacks, which accomplished young people, usually counting itself adherents of racist subculture, much more number of other people exposed to intimidation, discrimination and misfeasance from the side of public servants and ordinary citizens.If you have lost the passport while you do not passport renewal you cannot address in one public service. In order that effectively to contest with racist attacks, authorities of Ukraine must also take measures on overcoming of intolerance and xenophobia in Ukrainian society. Researches show that society behaves with larger prejudice to some groups of people. If a government will leave this problem regardless and will not sign of drastic measures, basic rights all greater amount of people will be violated, including a right on life.

In the real report Amnesty International brings over certificates that Ukraine does not execute the obligations within the framework of international law in area of human rights, in obedience to which it must:

* to liquidate a racial discrimination in a public policy and in practice;
* to protect private individuals from a racial discrimination from the side of non-state subjects and officials;
* to provide all resident possibility to use a right on freedom from a racial discrimination on territory of Ukraine.

Absence of adequate legislative norms, weak reacting from the side of militia and unwillingness to acknowledge the seriousness of crimes on racial soil resulted that guilty in racist crimes remain practically unpunished. Some ordinary actions of militia carry racist character frankly; the representatives of ethnic and racial minorities and in general any people which look «not like everyone» exposed to verification of documents frequent than other, Amnesty International does not assert that a racial discrimination is peculiar only to Ukraine. In the reports about many countries — in the context of Europe the question is about Great Britain, Greece, Spain, Kosovo, Latvia, Macedonia, Russia, Serbia, Slovakia, France and Estonia — organization documentarily grounds the facts of restriction of human rights on a racial, ethnic or religious sign. Amnesty International calls the Ukrainian government to acknowledge existence of racial discrimination and accept drastic measures on its liquidation. In conclusion of the real report Amnesty International brings over 17 recommendations, called to help Ukraine to execute the international obligations in area of human rights.

In the process of preparation of the real report Amnesty International accomplished two research visits to Ukraine — in September, 2007 and in February, 2008.

Researchers met with the representatives of ungovernmental organizations (UGO), international organizations, Ministry of internal affairs, Service safety of Ukraine, foreign Ministry, and also with persons, victimed from racist attacks, advocates, refugees and suppliants of refuge.