A/HRC/34/CRP.5 Distr.: Restricted 16 March 2017 English only Human Rights Council Thirty-fourth session 27 February-24 March 2017 Agenda item 10 Technical assistance and capacity-building Report of the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights on the human rights situation in Ukraine * (16 November 2016 to 15 February 2017) * Reproduced as received. GE.17-04270(E) ∗1704270∗ A/HRC/34/CRP.5 Contents Paragraphs Page I. Executive summary ................................................................................................. 1–17 5 II. Rights to life, liberty, security and physical integrity .............................................. 18–62 8 A. International humanitarian law in the conduct of hostilities ........................... 18–27 8 B. Casualties ........................................................................................................ 28–33 10 C. Missing persons .............................................................................................. 34–36 12 D. Summary executions, disappearances, arbitrary detention, and torture and ill-treatment ........................................................................... 37–62 13 1. Summary executions ........................................................................... 38–39 13 2. Enforced disappearances and abductions .......................................... 40–41 13 3. Unlawful and arbitrary detention, torture and ill-treatment .............. 42–50 14 4. Access to places of detention .............................................................. 51–53 17 5. Conditions of detention ...................................................................... 54–56 17 6. Exchanges of individuals deprived of liberty ..................................... 57–59 18 7. Transfers of pre-conflict detainees to Ukrainian authorities ............. 60–61 18 8. Conflict-related sexual violence……………………………………… …. 62 19 III. Accountability and administration of justice ........................................................... 63–86 20 A. Accountability for violations and abuses in the east ....................................... 63–68 20 B. Human rights impact of armed group structures ............................................. 69–72 21 C. Due process and fair trial rights, and interference with independence of the judiciary ......................................................................... 73–79 22 D. High profile cases of violence related to riots and public disturbances .......... 80–86 24 1. Killings of protesters at Maidan ......................................................... 81–82 24 2. 2 May 2014 violence in Odesa ........................................................... 83–86 24 IV. Fundamental freedoms ............................................................................................ 87–103 25 A. Freedom of movement .................................................................................... 87–91 25 B. Freedom of opinion and expression ................................................................ 92–98 26 C. Freedom of association and freedom of religion or belief .............................. 99–103 28 V. Economic and social rights ..................................................................................... 104–124 29 A. Impact of restrictions on humanitarian access ................................................ 110–114 31 B. Social security and protection of internally displaced persons ....................... 115–119 32 C. Housing, land and property rights ................................................................... 120–123 33 D. Discrimination against minorities ................................................................... 124 33 VI. Human rights in the Autonomous Republic of Crimea ........................................... 125–145 34 A. Rule of law and administration of justice ....................................................... 126–129 34 B. Right to life, physical integrity, liberty and security ....................................... 130–137 35 1. Torture and ill-treatment of detainees ................................................ 131–133 35 2. Human rights of Crimean detainees transferred to the Russian Federation ........................................................................... 134–135 36 3. Cooperation between Ukrainian and Russian Federation Ombudspersons in relation to detention issues ...................................... 136–137 36 C. Right to non- discrimination ........................................................................... 138–145 37 1. Discrimination in relation to the right to work .................................. 139–141 38 2. Discrimination in relation to the right to health ................................ 142–143 38 3. Discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation and gender identity 144–145 39 VII. Legal developments and institutional reforms......................................................... 146–152 39 A. Judicial reform ................................................................................................ 147–148 39 B. Legislative developments ............................................................................... 149–152 40 1. Free legal aid ..................................................................................... 149 40 2. Draft legislation on missing persons .................................................. 150–152 40 VIII. Technical cooperation and capacity-building for the promotion and protection of human rights in Ukraine ...................................................................................... 153–158 41 IX. Conclusions and recommendations ......................................................................... 159–170 42 2 A/HRC/34/CRP.5 3 A/HRC/34/CRP.5 4 A/HRC/34/CRP.5 I. Executive summary 1. Based on the work of the United Nations Human Rights Monitoring Mission in Ukraine (HRMMU), this seventeenth report of the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) on the situation of human rights in Ukraine covers the period from 16 November 2016 to 15 February 2017. 2. The findings presented in the report are grounded on data collected by HRMMU through interviews conducted during the period under review with 205 witnesses and victims of human rights violations and abuses. In 85 per cent of cases documented during this time, OHCHR was able to carry out follow-up action to facilitate the protection of the individuals concerned, including through trial monitoring, detention visits, facilitating action by UN Human Rights Council Special Procedures mandate holders and/or Human Rights Treaty Bodies, and referring cases to State institutions, humanitarian organizations and NGOs for protection. 3. Since the conflict broke out in eastern Ukraine in the Donetsk and Luhansk regions in April 2014, it has been exacerbated by the inflow of foreign fighters, and supply of ammunition and heavy weaponry, reportedly from the Russian Federation. 1 From mid-April 2014 to 15 February 2017, OHCHR recorded 33,146 casualties in the conflict area in eastern Ukraine, among civilians, Ukrainian armed forces and members of the armed groups, as well as extensive damage to property and critical civilian infrastructure. Countless families have lost members, had members injured, and lost property and their livelihoods as parties to the conflict continued to disregard and violate international humanitarian law and human rights law. As the armed conflict continues, its effects are being felt throughout Ukraine, as combatants return home from the front, displacement continues for many, and relatives grieve the loss of loved ones who have died, are detained or remain missing. 4. Spikes in hostilities in November and December 2016, and the drastic escalation over a very short time span at the end of January through the beginning of February 2017 caused damage to critical civilian infrastructure, including schools and medical facilities, further endangering civilians and disrupting essential water, electricity and heating services amid freezing temperatures. The high number of ceasefire violations recorded daily by the Special Monitoring Mission of the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE) suggests that weapons systems, munitions, armoured fighting vehicles and associated material continued to be present in the conflict zone, including in urban areas, fuelling the conflict and exacerbating the human rights situation. 2 5. The impact of the ongoing conflict in eastern Ukraine on human rights illustrates the urgent need for the full implementation of the provisions of the Minsk agreements. This includes the immediate and full respect for ceasefire, the withdrawal of weaponry, the Government of Ukraine re-establishing full control over parts of the border with the Russian Federation in certain areas of Donetsk and Luhansk regions, the withdrawal of foreign fighters, and pardon and amnesty through law, in compliance with human rights principles. 6. Between 16 November 2016 and 15 February 2017, OHCHR recorded 130 conflict- related civilian casualties in Ukraine: 23 deaths (seven women, 15 men and a boy) and 107 1 OHCHR report on the human rights situation in Ukraine covering the period from 16 February to 15 May 2015, paragraphs 2, 6; OHCHR report on the human rights situation in Ukraine covering the period from 16 May to 15 August 2015, paragraphs 2, 58-59; OHCHR report on the human rights situation in Ukraine covering the