Міжнародне право

     This 2021 Report from JurFem (Report on the results of judicial practice “On the application of the Council of Europe Convention on preventing and combating violence against women and domestic violence (Istanbul Convention)”) contains analyzes courts’ application of the Council of Europe Convention on Preventing and Combating Violence Against Women and Domestic Violence (“Istanbul Convention”) in domestic violence cases delivered

This report by the NGOs Ukrainian Helsinki Human Rights Union, The Tenth of April, and LEGALIFE-UKRAINE presents the results of a survey conducted among women involved in the sex industry. The experts draw attention to the fact that no direct international legal commitments on regulating commercial sex have been implemented in Ukrainian legislation. Sex work is currently illegal. Paid provision of sexual services in Ukraine is considered an administrative offense and carries a fine.

The report features quantitative and qualitative indicators of crimes committed in Ukraine in 2022 on the grounds of homophobia and transphobia taking into account the ongoing war. A total of 77 cases were documented, of which 31 cases were war crimes committed by the Russian occupiers and 2 cases happened to Ukrainian LGBTIQ refugees abroad.

The first applicant, who was in the fifth month of pregnancy, was detained by the police on suspicion of robbery. The national court ordered her pre-trial detention as a preventive measure pending trial. During her detention, the applicant gave birth to her son, the second applicant. Later, the woman appealed to the European Court of Human Rights (“ECtHR”) to obtain just satisfaction, as she argued that her right under Article 3 of the European Convention on Human Rights (prohibition of torture) was violated during detention.

The applicant lived in social housing provided by the local authorities because she was disabled and had four children with her husband. Gradually, the relationship between the applicant and her husband began to deteriorate as he abused alcohol and threatened her and the children. He sometimes subjected her to physical and psychological violence. Over several years, the applicant repeatedly appealed to the police with complaints about her husband’s abuse and ill-treatment of her. In response, law enforcement agencies only visited the residence and conducted preventive talks.

The first applicant and her husband divorced in 2017. Their children lived with the first applicant. The applicant claimed that her ex-husband had tried to force her to resume their relationship and behaved aggressively towards her and their sons. Then he took away their son (the second applicant) without the first applicant’s consent, refused to return him for about four months, and tried to kidnap their second son. The first applicant immediately contacted the police.

In this study from the Ukrainian Foundation for Public Health (HealthRight International) and UN Women, the experts conduct a comparative analysis of the risks of sexual harassment in several communities of Eastern Ukraine (Toretsk, Zolote, Soledar, and Novoaidar). A survey among women living in these localities shows a correlation between proximity to the contact line and fear of physical and sexual violence.

This case was initiated by nine citizens of Somalia, Eritrea, and Guinea, who for various reasons left their countries of origin and were detained by border guards of Ukraine while trying to cross Ukraine’s border with Hungary and Slovakia. Among the applicants was a pregnant underage girl (the eighth applicant) who had been repeatedly abused, humiliated, and beaten by her husband in Guinea. As a result, she had suffered a miscarriage during a previous pregnancy while in Guinea.

Pursuant to the Association Agreement between Ukraine, and the European Union, the European Atomic Energy Community and their Member States, (“the Association Agreement”), the Cabinet of Ministers of Ukraine (“CMU”) approved the Action Plan for the implementation of the Agreement (“the Plan”). The Plan provides for amendments to regulatory legal acts and the development of new legislation to fulfill obligations under the Association Agreement.

The Cabinet of Ministers of Ukraine (“the CMU”) and the Government Commissioner for Gender Policy (“the Commissioner”) introduced this amendment to help strengthen the executive branch’s implementation of gender equality in all spheres of society. Furthermore, the Commissioner organizes the performance of the CMU's powers in ensuring equal rights and opportunities for women and men in all spheres of society.