DEMOCRACY & HUMAN RIGHTS

The administration of the US president Joseph Biden has invited Ukraine to take a part in the Summit for democracy that will be held online on 9-10 December 2021.

The progress of democratic reforms in Ukraine has led to advancements of the country’s positions in international ratings. For instance, Ukraine does not belong to countries with incomplete democracy any more. It is among mid-range performing democracies now.

Human trafficking is a phenomenon still existing in the modern world. It encompasses the use of force, coercion, fraud, taking advantage of people’s vulnerable position in order to exploit them. In addition, it is a severe violation of human rights and freedoms that is subject to criminal liability. That is why questions arise about the scope of this phenomenon in Ukraine and barriers on the way of dealing with it.

Ukraine has a stable development of civil society organizations (CSO) despite the COVID-19 pandemic.

Nowadays one of the most dishonourable phenomenon still existing in the modern world is human trafficking. This phenomenon violates human rights, humiliates a person's honour and dignity. Every year millions of people all over the world who search for better life get in slave trade. According to estimates by the International Center for the Prevention of Crime, annual financial flow of this transnational crime comprises $30 bln. It makes human trafficking the second largest source of сriminal business in the world.

In order to increase public awareness of human trafficking, update this issue and familiarize with current global trends in the fight against this phenomenon and to define the problem solutions in Ukraine, a round table «Combating Trafficking in Human Beings. International experience and current trends» will be held by the Verkhovna Rada Committee on Law Enforcement.

Ukraine is one of 10 countries where there are positive changes in the Women, Peace and Security Index. The Index evaluates the level of women’s involvement in the process of decision-making, peacebuilding and post-conflict rehabilitation.

Labour migration is a usual process that enables the workforce to satisfy its economic needs. However employment in a certain city or region within your own country and work abroad are not the same things. Although the latter may provide better remuneration, it hides risks and certain negative effects for the country of origin of labor migrants.

Human trafficking remains a relevant issue that needs to be dealt with in Ukraine. For instance, 260 thousand Ukrainians have become victims of this phenomenon since 1991.

The Russian Federation is using social media and messengers to promote a destructive narrative about the harm of vaccination in Ukraine.

Every child, especially an orphan or a child deprived of parental care, needs special attention and support by the government. Issues that should be immediately resolved include buying accommodation for such children, their healthcare, employment as well as granting them financial support.

The governments abuse the situation related to COVID-19 and adopt new laws against those who are critical about the reaction of officials to the pandemic. In addition, the governments keep trying to limit society’s control over them as well as avoid accountability.

Representatives of iDemocracy participated at the thematic roundtable in Brussels that coincides with the EU Anti-Trafficking Day.

Audrey Azoulay, the Director-General of UNESCO, presented a report on the situation in Crimea at the 212th session of the UNESCO Executive Board.

III All-Ukrainian Forum of Youth Leaders and Priests of the Ukrainian Greek Catholic and the Roman Catholic Churches “Righteous Citizens because Good Christians” started last Friday on the 8th October. The event was organized by the Patriarchal Commission on Matters of Youth of the Ukrainian Greek Catholic Church together with the Commission of Pastorship of Youth of the Roman Catholic Church.

Without a doubt adoption is quite a complicated process that many Ukrainian and foreign families go through. According to official data, as of the 1st September 2021 Ukrainians adopted 712 children in Ukraine whereas foreigners adopted 199 children. In addition, 1095 candidates are still on a waiting list to adopt a child.

Suicide is a big problem that may take place at any age due to a number of internal and external factors if someone does not lend a helping hand to a person in time.

According to the Ministry of social policy, there are approximately 1,1 thousand families and lone Ukrainian citizens who want to adopt a child and have the status of a prospective adopter. At the same time, more than 17 thousand children, who can be adopted, are waiting for their family.

The all-Ukrainian Charity Organization “Down Syndrome” by the support of the Ukrainian Cultural Foundation has launched an experimental music art-therapy online club within the project named “Music is important. Music is possible”.

Approximately 14 thousand children are missing in Ukraine each year and the vast majority of them are those who run away from their homes due to misunderstanding with their parents.

Безперечно, усиновлення – це досить складний процес, через який проходять багато українських та іноземних сімей. За офіційними даними, станом на 1 вересня 2021 року в Україні відбулося 712 усиновлень українцями, 199 – іноземцями, а 1095 кандидатів ще стоять у черзі на усиновлення. При цьому варто відзначити зменшення кількості усиновлень за час пандемії.

The “Taliban” movement has appointed Muhammad Suhail Shaheen as a new ambassador of Afghanistan to the UN.

The issue of dual citizenship has been always present in Ukrainian political discourse. Some politicians support the idea of dual citizenship while others are totally against it. Both sides provide well-grounded arguments and everyone has his/her own truth. But the issue has not been settled yet. In this context the following question appears. Should Ukraine change its existing legislation regarding citizenship?

News that a seven year old boy with grievous bodily harm had been delivered to the emergency department of a hospital in the Cherkasy region rattled Ukraine several weeks ago. Boy’s injuries indicated cruel treatment and violence.

Ukraine’s active participation in evacuation operations in Afghanistan raised an important and acute issue on how the Ukrainian government would react to the refugee issue while the country had to deal with challenges faced by internally displaced persons (IDPs) from the east of Ukraine and the Autonomous Republic of Crimea.

Ukraine has a rich experience in conducting evacuation operations. Let us only recall Ukrainian diplomats’ efforts to bring Ukrainians from abroad to the motherland when the coronavirus crisis started.

President Volodymyr Zelensky signed a law providing increased punishment for domestic and gender-based violence in July 2021.

Recently a piece of news that Kyiv and Kharkiv fertility specialists made a scheme of “delivering” babies to foreigners has shocked all of Ukraine. They tried to pass off human trafficking as an activity within surrogate motherhood program.

On the 24th August Ukraine celebrated its 30th Independence anniversary. Since 1991 the country has witnessed impoverishment by more than one-third and the birth level has declined by 50%. However Ukrainians still believe in the future of their country.

The Economist's research department concluded that in the past 2020, all regions of the world took a bigger or smaller step back in democracy. The hysteria surrounding Covid-19 has led to large-scale restrictions on democratic rights and freedoms, as well as increased tendencies to censor opinions and intolerance.

While his visit to the United States, Director of Human Rights Initiative at iDemocracy Mykola Kuleba met US senator James Lankford of Oklahoma and Bridget Wagner, one of the leaders of The Heritage Foundation, a conservative think tank working on a wide range of US national policy issues.

Director of Human Rights Initiative at a non-governmental organization iDemocracy Mykola Kuleba visited Washington where he took part at an International Religious Freedom Summit.

1,000 respondents aged 18 and over were interviewed using the CATI (Computer Analasys Telephone Interview) method. Theoretical sampling error, excluding the design effect, up to 3.1%. Date of the field stage of the study: April 13-15, 2021.

Adoption of this Law will allow to form the necessary basis and appropriate models of behavior that will reduce both the risks of religious confrontation and the use of hate speech, and - creates a nonviolent algorithm to protect their rights to freedom of thought and religion through the establishment of a religious ombudsman.