eng
Legalife-Ukraine research: 1418 cases of violence and violations of the rights of SWs was recorded in DataCheck during 2024
Сomments:0
The data below is based on the results of a study of the impact of martial law on the observance of the human rights of SWs in Ukraine, which was conducted by CO «Legalife-Ukraine» in 2024 with the support of CO ‘100% Life’ and the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria.
Between September 2023 and August 2024, the DataCheck database of CO “Legalife-Ukraine” recorded 208 appeals from SWs regarding violence due to their belonging to vulnerable groups or because of their gender, sexual orientation, age, etc.
TYPES OF VIOLENCE (and number of appeals)
Insults, threats, humiliation of human dignity due to belonging to vulnerable groups or due to gender, sexual orientation, age, etc. - 62
Physical violence of various degrees of severity due to belonging to vulnerable groups or due to gender, sexual orientation, age, etc. - 50
Torture and cruel treatment due to belonging to vulnerable groups or due to gender, sexual orientation, age, etc. - 21
Violation of the right to family life, domestic violence - 20
Bullying of the child due to belonging to vulnerable groups or due to gender, sexual orientation, age, etc. - 19
Robbery, blackmail, extortion due to belonging to vulnerable groups or due to gender, sexual orientation, age, etc. - 13
Damage to property due to belonging to vulnerable groups or due to gender, sexual orientation, age, etc. - 13
Sexual violence and rape – 10
The analysis of appeals in DataCheck confirms the results of interviews with the SWs regarding the types of domestic and gender-based violence faced by SWs in Ukraine. Due to their belonging to vulnerable groups, gender and sexual orientation, age, etc., they face stigma and, as a result, violence, both from their relatives and friends (domestic violence) and from outsiders, including representatives of state institutions and law enforcement agencies, namely:
Physical violence, including sexual violence, of varying severity;
Psychological and economic violence;
Bullying and harassment of children of concern in educational institutions (bullying);
Other crimes related to violence.
Out of 208 registered cases: in 8 cases the affected persons refused legal aid, in 174 cases the case was successfully resolved as a result of contacting paralegals, and in 26 cases paralegal/legal support is still being provided to clients.
Between September 2023 and August 2024, the DataCheck database recorded 1,210 appeals from SWs regarding violations of their rights in the following areas:
Education and Employment - 97 cases (8% of the total number of cases in DataCheck);
Administrative services and social protection - 156 cases (13% of the total);
Law Enforcement and Justice - 369 cases (30% of the total);
Healthcare - 585 (48%);
Other - 3 cases.
This data confirms the results of interviews with the representatives of the service providers and the conclusions about the highest rates of violations of the rights of service providers by medical workers and law enforcement officials.
Out of 1210 applications: in 62 cases, the applicants refused legal aid, in 985 cases the case was successfully resolved as a result of contacting paralegals, and in 163 cases paralegal/legal support is still being provided to clients.
The tables below show the number and types of violations of the rights of SWs registered in DataCheck from September 2023 to August 2024 by key areas: Healthcare, Education and Employment, Administrative Services and Social Protection, Law Enforcement and Justice.
|
MEDICINE |
Number of appeals |
|
Statements by employees that degrade human dignity |
191 |
|
Extortion of money and unofficial payments |
67 |
|
Refusal to provide medical care |
50 |
|
Extortion of money to pay for services to the official hospital account |
45 |
|
Disclosure of medical secrets |
41 |
|
Refusal to provide outpatient treatment due to belonging to vulnerable groups |
33 |
|
Unreasonable refusal to provide Substitute Supportive Therapy (SMT) for self-administration in outpatient settings |
29 |
|
Violation of the right to free medical care, including provision of medicines |
26 |
|
Violation of procedures for providing and monitoring the use of SMT |
22 |
|
Refusal to provide HIV testing/examination/treatment |
16 |
|
Unreasonable refusal to provide established disability groups |
15 |
|
Refusal to have a family doctor sign a declaration due to belonging to vulnerable groups |
12 |
|
Other |
10 |
|
Refusal to receive SMT |
9 |
|
Refusal to conduct diagnostics due to belonging to a vulnerable group |
8 |
|
Refusal to manage pregnancy due to belonging to a vulnerable group |
6 |
|
Demand to terminate pregnancy due to HIV infection |
5 |
|
LAW ENFORCEMENT AND JUSTICE |
Number of appeals |
|
Insults and threats by law enforcement officers |
119 |
|
Refusal to accept a statement about a committed crime |
73 |
|
Statements by law enforcement officers that degrade human dignity |
50 |
|
Blackmail and extortion by law enforcement officers |
25 |
|
Violation of rights stipulated by the Law of Ukraine "On Citizens’ Appeals" |
16 |
|
Illegal detention |
14 |
|
Illegal seizure of items, including OST (Opioid replacement therapy) preparations |
13 |
|
Disclosure and threats of disclosure of confidential information |
9 |
|
Refusal by law enforcement officers to provide effective protection against aggression |
7 |
|
Violation of the procedure for conducting a superficial check/superficial inspection |
7 |
|
Unprofessional behavior of police officers during the investigation of crimes based on the statements of victims or operational-search activities |
6 |
|
Torture and ill-treatment by law enforcement officers |
4 |
|
Physical violence by law enforcement officers |
3 |
|
Other |
23 |
|
EDUCATION AND EMPLOYMENT |
Number of applications |
|
Forced dismissal "at will" due to belonging to vulnerable groups |
25 |
|
Denial of employment |
13 |
|
Attitudes that degrade honor and dignity due to belonging to vulnerable groups |
13 |
|
Disclosure of confidential information, including HIV status |
13 |
|
Reduction or non-payment of wages due to belonging to vulnerable groups |
8 |
|
Unfounded accusations of embezzlement or other grounds |
7 |
|
Expulsion from an educational institution |
5 |
|
Requirement of forced HIV testing |
3 |
|
Denial of education |
3 |
|
Other |
2 |
|
Denial of registration at an employment center |
5 |
|
ADMINISTRATIVE SERVICES AND SOCIAL PROTECTION |
Number of appeals |
|
Statements by an employee of a state organization that degrade human dignity |
40 |
|
Disclosure and threats of disclosure of confidential information due to belonging to vulnerable groups |
39 |
|
Refusal to provide social services, social assistance, registration of subsidies, etc. |
24 |
|
Requirement to provide additional documents not provided for by law when registering social services |
19 |
|
Violation of IDP rights |
12 |
|
Refusal to provide documents or violation of the deadlines for providing documents |
7 |
|
Deprivation of parental rights due to sex work |
7 |
|
Refusal to accept or deprive of a place in social housing |
5 |
|
Other |
6 |
The analysis of the appeals confirms the results of the interviews with SWs not only regarding the areas, but also regarding the types of rights violations that SWs face.
Thus, in all the listed areas, SWs face stigma and, as a result, discrimination due to belonging to vulnerable groups, namely:
- unprofessional behavior, negative attitude from employees of state bodies, law enforcement officers, employers, doctors, etc., insults, statements that degrade human dignity;
- refusals to provide services and assistance, social benefits, refusals to find employment and dismissals, obstacles to obtaining education;
- disclosure of medical secrets/confidential information and other offenses.
Source CO “Legalife-Ukraine”
Коментарів: 0