25 March 2016

The Main Investigation Department of the Ukrainian National Police together with the International Organization for Migration conducted a hate crimes investigation seminar in Kyiv.

The event was opened by the Deputy Head of National Police, Chief of Main Investigation Department, Col. Oleksandr Vakulenko and Deputy Chief of the IOM Mission in Ukraine Stephen Rogers. “Fight against hate crimes is possible only with full-fledged involvement of NGOs”, stated Col. Vakulenko.

“IOM welcomes efforts of the Main Investigation Department of the National Police of Ukraine on prevention of hate crimes and establishing dialogue with minority communities. IOM stands ready to continue this cooperation and share its expertise developed within framework of the Diversity Initiative network,” said Stephen Rogers.

The seminar gathered heads of the National Police regional investigation departments, inspectors dealing with crimes based on racial, ethnical, religious and other intolerance, human rights, non-governmental and charitable organizations activists, members of religious communities, lawyers and experts.

Police Col. Oleksii Kriukov from the National Hate Crimes Contact Unit and IOM Ukraine Specialist on Combating Racism and Xenophobia Yana Salakhova delivered presentations during the seminar.

The seminar participants discussed issues that emerge during investigations of hate crimes as well as ways to develop cooperation between law enforcement agencies, NGOs, and minority communities of Ukraine.

A meeting with representatives of the Diversity Initiative network in the format of “Living Library” was also arrange during the seminar to enhance the dialogue and partnership between the police and minority communities for better investigation and combating of hate crimes.

Responding to an increase in the number of suspected racially motivated attacks in Ukraine beginning in December 2006, International Organization for Migration (IOM), the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), Amnesty International (AI) and other concerned civil society organizations formed the Diversity Initiative network in April 2007 to begin addressing the issue in a coordinated way.

IOM implemented eight projects in the area of monitoring and combating xenophobia and discrimination in Ukraine that were aimed to assist the governmental agencies to adapt their policies to the needs of vulnerable migrant groups and minorities in line with best international and European practices.