LGBT groups appeal to EU over attempts to restrict anti-discrimination measures

Members of the LGBT community in Ukraine have urged the EU to hold to the demands imposed on Ukraine as part of the Visa Liberalization Action Plan.  They demand that any anti-discrimination law include discrimination on the grounds of sexual orientation for example, when applying for jobs. Kommersant-Ukraine reports the parliamentary profile committee as saying that there are various forms of discrimination in Ukraine and that they should not therefore focus only on LGBT.

NGOs defending the rights of sexual minorities signed an open letter to EU leaders after Valeria Lutkovska, Human Rights Ombudsperson and several MPs stated that they planned to ask the European Commission to waive the requirement on amendments to anti-discrimination legislation.

One of a number of draft laws presently tabled in parliament proposes adding sexual orientation to the list of forms of discrimination which are prohibited.

The open letter follows a statement issued by Amnesty International also expressing outrage at the suggestion by Lutkovska and MPs that the requirement for amendments regarding discrimination of sexual minorities be waived.