The United Nations Human Rights Monitoring Mission in Ukraine said they were shocked by the recent killing of two homeless men in Lviv on Sept. 12, and brutal beating of homeless people in Kyiv between Aug. 15 – Sept. 5.
“These cases exemplify a larger pattern of violence and intolerance in the country towards homeless people. In both cases, perpetrators reportedly filmed their actions on mobile phones, and in Kyiv they also posted the video on a Telegram channel, using social media to incite hatred and violence against homeless people,” the mission said in a statement on Oct. 2, released on its Facebook page.
The organization said that unless prompt action is taken by the authorities to prevent further such cases, homeless women and men will remain at risk of being subjected to violence against hatred because of the actions of a minority within society. The coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic has exacerbated the risks for homeless people, reducing their options to self-isolate and take other measures to protect their health and safety, the mission said in the statement.
“We call on the authorities, in particular the National Police of Ukraine, the General Prosecutor’s Office of Ukraine, the Ministry of Internal Affairs, the Ministry of Social Policy, Kyiv City Council, Kyiv City State Administration and Lviv City Council to: condemn all cases of violence and hate speech against homeless people; fully and effectively investigate all cases of violence against homeless people; expand public services and information for homeless people across the country to provide them with shelter and protection; combat negative stereotypes by raising public awareness of the reasons for homelessness,” the UN Monitoring Mission said.
