Amnesty International representatives are attending the March and are available for interview
The Ukrainian authorities must ensure the safety and security of all participants in the Trans March taking place in Kyiv tomorrow, Amnesty International said, warning that participants are at serious risk of violent attacks. In 2018 the police failed to protect participants in a similar peaceful rally from violent groups who hurled abuse and threw smoke grenades.
“Last year the Ukrainian police showed inexcusable inaction in the face of homophobic and transphobic attacks. Groups advocating hatred and discrimination took full advantage of the police’s failure and subjected peaceful marchers to severe abuse,” said Oksana Pokalchuk, Amnesty International Ukraine’s Director.
“Tomorrow we are calling on the Ukrainian authorities to send a clear message that they will stand up for the LGBTI community. During the most recent Pride marches in Kyiv the police demonstrated that they are able to effectively protect LGBTI events, and we urge them to follow their own example tomorrow. They must create a safe space for transgender rights activists to exercise their right to freedom of peaceful assembly and expression.
“Last year was an important lesson for the authorities in Ukraine. Tomorrow they have a chance to demonstrate that they are committed to protecting the rights of everyone in the country, and send a message that hatred will not be tolerated.”
Background
The Trans March will take place on Mykhailivska Square in central Kyiv at 12.00 pm on 23 November to mark Transgender Day of Remembrance.
For further information please contact:
Lucy Scholey, Media Relations, Amnesty International Canada (English branch), 613-744-7667, ext. 236, lscholey@amnesty.ca
