You're reading: Rada adopts anti-discrimination law at first reading

The Verkhovna Rada, Ukraine's parliament, is planning to adopt a law on the principles of preventing and combating discrimination in Ukraine, with 239 MPs voting for a respective bill at first reading on Tuesday, June 5.

According to the explanatory note to the document, the bill defines the concept of discrimination and its basic forms, introduces the principle of non-discrimination, establishes a ban on discrimination, and defines actions that are not considered discrimination. The bill also defines the subjects vested with powers to prevent and combat discrimination.

The bill proposes that the Verkhovna Rada, the Ukrainian parliament commissioner for human rights (ombudsperson), the Cabinet of Ministers, other state agencies, the authorities in Crimea, local authorities and public associations be recognized as the subjects vested with powers to combat and prevent discrimination.

According to the provisions of the bill, discrimination is a decision, action or inaction aimed at restricting privileges concerning an individual or a group of individuals on the grounds of race, color, political, religious and other beliefs, sex, age, ethnic or social origin, family and property status, place of residence, linguistic or other characteristics, if they make it impossible to recognize and realize human rights and freedoms on equal grounds.