Kyiv, 9 November 2015 – The Regional Coordinator of the Ukrainian Parliament Commissioner for Human Rights (Ombudsperson) took prompt measures to address race-based discrimination against an immigrant woman and helped restore her right to social security.

Kyiv, 16 June 2015 - The Office of the Ukrainian Parliament Commissioner for Human Rights hosted a meeting for civic activists and human rights defenders interested in preparing alternative reports to the UN Committee on the Elimination of Racial Discrimination (CERD). The kick-off meeting was supported within the framework of UNDP's Democratization and Human Rights in Ukraine programme.

As announced at a press conference on 14 November, human rights groups asked the court to abolish unlawful provisions of the National Bank of Ukraine Decree №699 as of 03.11.2014 that discriminate against Ukrainian citizens residing or registered in Crimea. Currently, Crimeans have limited access to basic banking services, including opening of accounts, currency exchange, payments, etc.

Human rights defenders are unanimous in admitting that discrimination in Ukraine is a problem. It may affect anyone regardless of sex, age, or health condition. Some 40 UN Member States pointed out to this issue and the need to address it during the 2-nd cycle of the Universal Periodic Review of Ukraine in Geneva in October 2012