Human Rights in Eastern Ukraine in Pandemic
Monitoring Human Rights in Eastern Ukraine During the Coronavirus Pandemic
The coronavirus pandemic, and responses to the pandemic by Ukrainian government and de facto separatist authorities, have led to serious human rights challenges among the most vulnerable people in eastern Ukraine. The situation around the freedom of movement is especially problematic due to the constantly changing rules and policies ostensibly implemented to combat the pandemic and protect public health. These challenges are especially acute at Entry-Exit Checkpoints (EECPs) where people cross the line of contact and communities in and around the line of contact.
Freedom House is working with Vostok SOS and Truth Hounds to document, report on, and address human rights abuses and challenges in and along the line of contact connected to the coronavirus pandemic and responses to the pandemic by government and de facto authorities and forces.
Key Initiatives
Monitoring, Documentation, and Reporting
Through monitoring visits to EECPs, restricted-access villages, and other communities in and along the contact line, documenters will gather data which will feed into awareness raising and policy-advocacy activities among key government, military and security forces, civil-society, and humanitarian stakeholders.
Below are reports based on data gathered during the human rights monitoring and documentation missions.
Report on monitoring mission conducted November 9-13 to seven EECPs:
Report on monitoring mission conducted December 7-11 along the Line of Contact:
Legal Assistance
Vostok SOS provides legal assistance to victims of human rights abuses to help them protect their rights and pursue appropriate redress. Recipients of legal assistance are identified through monitoring and documentation efforts, Vostok SOS’s Skarzhnyk hotline, and media monitoring.
Partners
This initiative is made possible by the generous support of the American people through the United States Agency for International Development (USAID). The contents are the responsibility of the PROGRESS consortium and do not necessarily reflect the views of USAID or the United States Government.
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