Ukrainian Parliament Committee on Human Rights not supports holding KyivPride

Chairman of the Human Rights Committee of the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine Hryhoriy Nemyria has made a statement in support of holding the Equality March in Kyiv. However, only one committee member, chairwoman of the subcommittee on gender equality and non-discrimination Iryna Suslova, out of ten committee members supported the Chairman.

In his public statement, Hryhoriy Nemyria, the Chairman of the Committee of the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine on Human Rights, National Minorities and Interethnic Relations, stressed his respect for human rights and fundamental freedoms.

On the eve of the Equality March, which will be held in Kyiv on June 12, Hryhoriy Nemyria recalled that the citizens have the right to assemble peacefully without arms and to hold meetings, rallies and demonstrations, according to Article 39 of the Constitution of Ukraine.

“It is an alienable right of every person,” Hryhoriy Nemyria said.

“Ensuring the right to peaceful assembly is an important indicator of the democratic development of the society. Therefore, I support the peaceful human rights action Equality March and encourage the law enforcement agencies to ensure law and order and security during the event,” the MP noted.

He also emphasized that all the citizens of Ukraine have the constitutional right to peaceful rally or demonstration, and the duty of the state is to ensure the safety of participants.

Hryhoriy Nemyria stressed that discrimination, harassment and physical aggression towards members of the LGBT community should have no place in a legal state, which aspires to become a part of the European community.

“Our common task is to build a tolerant, democratic and European society in Ukraine!” the statement reads.

The first response to the statement by the Committee Chairman has already appeared. Thus, Executive Director of the all-Ukrainian Charitable Foundation “Fulcrum” Bohdan Hloba posted on his Facebook page “it is a huge progress for parliamentarism.”

And noted: “The betrayal is that the statement was supported by only two out of ten members of the Committee. How can MPs, who do not support the right of citizens to peaceful assembly, work in the Human Rights Committee?”

Photo credit: ba.org.ua