The Ukrainian government should condemn homophobic speech and attacks on a peaceful protest in Kyiv on December 8, 2012. The rally by lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) and human rights groups commemorated Human Rights Day on December 10 and protested a homophobic bill under consideration in the Ukrainian parliament.
Members of the Svoboda party, which won 38 out of 450 seats in the October 2012 parliamentary elections, and which supports the bill, tried to disrupt the protest. Witnesses told Human Rights Watch that the police made homophobic and transphobic remarks throughout the protest. Ukrainian authorities should fully investigate the December 8 incident and hold those responsible for attacking the protesters accountable.
