10. While the situation requires attention in particular in eastern Ukraine and in Crimea, there are positive changes underway or under reflection. There are, for example, indications of a willingness to ensure a break with past injustices and to elaborate a new vision for Ukraine’s future. Strengthening the rule of law, democracy and human rights will be key to any lasting change. Legislative and institutional reforms should be carried out in a comprehensive, transparent and consultative way, and therefore not be rushed. Furthermore, they should be sustained through consistent and accountable implementation. 11. The international community, including the United Nations, can play a role in supporting an environment where the human rights of all, including minorities and indigenous peoples, may be best promoted and protected. In particular, it will be important to ensure that the 25 May elections take place in an environment conducive to free and fair elections. Without an independent, objective and impartial establishment of the facts and circumstances surrounding alleged human rights violations, there is a serious risk of competing narratives being manipulated for political ends, leading to divisiveness and incitement to hatred. 12. Among other means to address these challenges and at the request of the Government of Ukraine, OHCHR established the UN Human Rights Monitoring Mission in Ukraine (HRMMU). This mission became operational on 15 March and will consist of 34 staff, including national staff, deployed in Lviv, Kharkhiv, Odesa and Donetsk, and seeks also the presence of a sub-office in Simferopol. In the meantime, HRMMU continues to monitor the situation in Crimea, in accordance with the General Assembly resolution 68/262 of 27 March on the Territorial Integrity of Ukraine. 13. In addition to monitoring the human rights situation, the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights stands ready to provide technical assistance for legislative and other reforms. 5|Page