KIEV, Ukraine (JTA) — The Ukrainian Parliament’s human rights commissioner called on mayors and deputies throughout Ukraine to act against racial violence.
Nina Karpachova on Monday urged the city officials to join a European coalition of cities working to counteract racism who have signed on to a general set of principles and actions against racial violence, ombudsman.kiev.ua reported.
According to Karpachova, racial violence increased sharply in the country of 46 million. She said there has been an increase in reported racially motivated incidents and victims in large cities such as Kiev, Lvov, Simferopol, Odessa, Vinnitsa, Donetsk and Kharkov. Several of the attacks have been perpetrated on Jews.
Karpachova said that this xenophobia is a threat to human rights and freedom in Ukraine
Ukrainian Jewish leaders concur with reports that foreigners in Ukraine live in a climate of fear because of increasing race-based attacks and murders.
