Summary Findings from the Report on the results of monitoring of the National Human Rights Strategy’s Implementation in the period December 1, 2015 – December 1, 20171 in part of ensuring the rights of internally displaced persons and conflict-affected population.

Two years ago, the National Human Rights Strategy and the Action Plan for its enforcement were approved. However, the analysis of measures envisaged for the period of the 4th quarter of 2015 – 3rd quarter of 2017 demonstrates that the majority of them were not fully implemented, while it is impossible to evaluate implementation of others because the provided information is incomplete or not substantive. In addition, the data from the summarized report of the authorities is scattered, thus, there is no possibility of an objective assessment. This indicates a formal and outright approach to the Action Plan’s implementation. The activities are mostly not implemented within the specified timeframe, and actual information on those measures that were executed during the reporting period is not provided in future reports. Moreover, the deficiencies, highlighted by the Ukrainian Parliament Commissioner for Human Rights and the Public Monitoring Platform in previous reports, have not been taken into account and have not been eliminated.

This report describes the situation relating new human rights challenges caused by the conflict.

Thus, among analyzed directions are:

– ensuring the rights of anti-terrorist operation’s participants;

– protection of the rights of internally displaced persons;

– release of prisoners of war and restoration of their rights;

– taking necessary measures to protect the rights of persons residing in the temporarily occupied territory of Ukraine;

– ensuring rights of citizens of Ukraine residing in the settlements of Donetsk and Luhansk oblasts, on the territory of which public authorities temporarily do not exercise powers or exercise them not to the full extent;

As well as relevant chapters concerning:

– ensuring the right to life;

– ensuring freedom of thought and speech, expression of views and beliefs, access to information and free development of personality;

– ensuring the rights of the child;

– raising awareness on human rights issues.

You could find full text of the assessment via this link.

The Report is the result of the joint work of the Public Platform for Monitoring the Implementation of the National Human Rights Strategy, which currently unites efforts of around 70 participants under the Memorandum of Cooperation between civil society representatives and the Ukrainian Parliament Commissioner for Human Rights. More details are available at http://hro.org.ua.

Opinions and recommendations presented here do not necessarily reflect the official position and views of the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) or the U.S. Government. The contents are the responsibility of the authors.

The American people, through the USAID, have provided economic and humanitarian assistance worldwide for over 55 years. In Ukraine, USAID’s assistance focuses on three areas: Health and Social Transition, Economic Growth and Democracy and Governance. USAID has provided 1.8 bln. technical and humanitarian assistance to Ukraine since 1992.

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