The European Union and Ukraine held their annual Human Rights Dialogue
on 20 July 2016 in Kyiv. The EU-Ukraine Human Rights Dialogue was held for the
second time as a dedicated full-day event since the start of the provisional
application of the relevant parts of the EU-Ukraine Association Agreement. In
the agreement, the EU and Ukraine express their mutual commitment to common
values, in particular full respect for democratic principles, rule of law, good
governance, human rights and fundamental freedoms.
The meeting allowed for a thorough exchange of views on the human rights
situation in Ukraine and on the country's commitment to achieving sustainable
progress in this area, including increased adherence to international human
rights law.
The EU commended Ukraine for adopting the national human rights strategy
2016-2020 and the related action plan and underlined the importance of its
implementation. Both sides agreed on the important role of the Human Rights
Commissioner of the Ukrainian Parliament and of civil society in strengthening
human rights protection in Ukraine.
Discussions covered the developments that have taken place since the
last Dialogue in July 2015, on a wide range of issues. Both sides shared their
concern over the deteriorating human rights situation in the Crimean peninsula,
illegally annexed by the Russian Federation in March 2014. Concerns were raised
as well on the persecution of persons belonging to minorities, in particular
the continued persecution of the Crimean Tatars, as well as the ongoing human
rights violations in the non-government controlled areas in eastern Ukraine.
The EU stressed the need to investigate and ensure accountability for all
reported human rights violations committed in the context of the ongoing
conflict and to ensure full compliance with International Humanitarian Law by
all sides. The EU also highlighted the importance of protecting the human
rights of internally displaced persons.
The EU recalled that Ukraine has committed to the ratification of the
Rome Statute of the International Criminal Court.
Following reports from the Council of Europe's International Advisory
Panel issued last year, the EU called for further progress in the
investigations into the crimes committed during the EuroMaidan protests and the
violence seen in Odesa on 2 May 2014, emphasising the need to swiftly bring to
justice those responsible. The EU also raised the issue of preventing
ill-treatment and torture and fully cooperating with international bodies to
this end.
Both sides noted the improvement of media legislation in line with the freedoms
of expression and of the media and the need for rapid and consistent
implementation. The EU also underlined the need to ensure the safety of
journalists, particularly in the context of violence against journalists and
impunity of the perpetrators of such crimes. Both sides deplored today's
killing of the renowned journalist Pavlo Sheremet and agreed on the need for a
swift investigation.
The EU also critically noted that the publication of journalists'
private data on Ukrainian web-sites had occurred. The EU emphasised that more
action is required by the authorities in this regard.
Non-discrimination policy was discussed, too, including the rights of
LGBTI persons and those belonging to ethnic, linguistic, religious and national
minorities, the rights of the child, gender equality and women's rights as well
as the reform of the electoral framework.
Additionally, the EU and Ukraine raised continued concerns that a number
of Ukrainian citizens still remain illegally detained in Russia. The release of
Nadiya Savchenko in May and of Gennady Afanasiev and Yuri Soloshenko in June
was welcomed.
The Ukrainian delegation was led by Mr Sergiy Petukhov, Deputy Minister
of Justice of Ukraine. The EU delegation was led by Mr Dirk Schuebel, Head of
Division for bilateral relations with the Eastern Partnership countries in the
European External Action Service. In line with the usual practice, the EU held
consultations with representatives of Ukrainian and international NGOs prior to
the dialogue.
The next Human Rights Dialogue meeting between Ukraine and the EU is
scheduled to take place in the summer of 2017.
No comments:
Post a Comment