Ukraine Prohibits Discrimination Based on Sexual Orientation and Gender Identity

The Ukrainian Parliament has approved the proposed bill No. 3442, which prohibits discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation and gender identity. Out of the 333 deputies present at the session, 234 supported the proposed bill.

According to the text of the bill, 'any discrimination in labor, in particular the violation of the rights of equality and equal opportunities, direct or indirect infringements on the rights of employees, based on race, skin color, political, religious, or other beliefs, sex, gender identity, sexual orientation, ethnic, social, and foreign origin, age, health, disability, suspicion of or presence of HIV/AIDS, family and property status, family obligations, place of residence, membership in trade unions or other associations, participation in strikes, protecting ones rights in court or providing support to other employees to protect their rights, linguistic or other grounds, unrelated to the nature of the work or the conditions of its execution, are prohibited.»

Earlier, the European Commission demanded these changes in Ukrainian legislation in as one of the conditions for the liberalization of the EU's visa regulations for Ukrainian citizens.