Overview of Human Rights in Ukraine

In November 2004, thousands of Ukrainian citizens began peacefully protesting the apparent manipulation of the elections.   The so-called Orange Revolution brought international attention to the political situation in the Ukraine while assisting Yushchenko in defeating Yanukovych. Upon taking office Yuschenko announced his intention to work toward achieving a better human rights record while rectifying some abuses of the past government.

While some improvements have been made, other serious human rights problems remain deeply entrenched in Ukrainian society. In the first year of his administration, Yuschenko worked to lessen the state's control over media. Manipulation of content and harassment of independent journalists has all but ceased. However, attempts to pass legislation that would allow for independent media outlets continue to fail despite the government's support of media reform.

Arbitrary arrest and detention, as well as torture and ill-treatment of detainees, continue to be problems in the Ukraine despite the national human rights ombudsman’s campaign to end these practices. Prison conditions are extremely harsh. Overcrowding, violence, inadequate sanitation and lack of access to adequate food and medical provisions continue to persist.

Despite having ratified the Convention Relating to the Status of Refugees, Ukraine fails to offer protection and resources to persons seeking asylum. Police and border security regularly detain undocumented migrants, sometimes for months on end, and deny them access to interpreters and/or legal counsel.

Ukraine is home to one of the world’s fastest growing HIV/AIDS epidemic. Drug use, prostitution, sexual abuse in prisons, and unprotected sex, all contribute to the increasing number of HIV/AIDS cases here. Those who are infected with the virus often face societal and workplace discrimination in addition to police harassment.

Racism and xenophobia have long been entrenched in Ukrainian society. Police continue to harass and beat minorities. They also target them for document checks, which often results in bribes or illegal detention. Roma (Gypsies) and Jews are often the target of such abuses.

Most of the men, women, and children, who are trafficked to Europe, the Middle East, and Russia for either sexual exploitation or forced labor, flow through Ukraine. It is a primary source country for these individuals as well.

Human Development Index (HDI) Rank:

77th out of 177

Note: Human Development Index (HDI) is a composite index that measures the level of well-being of nations in the world. It uses factors such as poverty, literacy, life-expectancy, education, gross domestic product, and purchasing power parity to assess the average achievements in each nation. It has been used in the United Nation’s Human Development Report since 1993.