According to the UN decision, every year on 1 March, the world celebrates Zero Discrimination Day. Its key goal is to promote equality and development of society based on fair laws.
The principle of equality in Ukraine is enshrined in Articles 21 and 24 of the Basic Law, according to which all people are free and equal in their dignity and rights, and citizens have equal constitutional rights and freedoms and are equal before the law. That is why harassment of a person based on gender, age, race, ethnicity, disability, political views, religious beliefs, sexual orientation and gender identity is unacceptable. Non-discrimination is an inalienable human right.
“Unfortunately, we have to state that manifestations of discrimination continue to occur in our society. Without overcoming them, we will not be able to come closer to European standards of human rights protection and democratic values,” said Nelli Yakovleva, the Deputy Chairman of the Committee on Human Rights, De-occupation and Reintegration of the Temporarily Occupied Territories of Ukraine, National Minorities and Interethnic Relations.
To combat discrimination, we need to join forces between government authorities and civil society. As of today, a number of anti-discrimination bills have been registered in the Parliament aimed at combating harassment on various grounds. High-quality legislation in this area is an important component of creating a stereotype of zero tolerance for discrimination. The Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine and the Committee on Human Rights, De-occupation and Reintegration of the Temporarily Occupied Territories of Ukraine, National Minorities and Interethnic Relations, within their respective terms of reference, continue to work to ensure equality of citizens before the law as an important condition for the existence of the rule of law.”