To the Government of Ukraine:  Ensure inclusivity and equal participation of all in public affairs and political life, including members of all minorities and indigenous peoples and establish a mechanism to facilitate their participation. HRMMU 15 June 2014 Report To the Government of Ukraine and other stakeholders:  There should be constitutional inclusive and meaningful consultations with all political parties, regardless of their ideology, as well as representatives of civil society and minority (national and ethnic, linguistic, religious and other) groups and indigenous peoples in order to embrace all components of society, including women in the dialogue for the new constitution, which will reflect the new reality of the country with a full-fledged system of checks and balances. The peaceful population of the east should participate in these consultations. Theme 7: Freedom of expression, association, and peaceful assembly Treaty Bodies  Concerned about the lack of a domestic legal framework regulating peaceful events, the HR Committee (2013) urged Ukraine to adopt a law regulating freedom of assembly, imposing only restriction that are in compliance with the strict requirements of article 21 of the Covenant.  HR Committee recommended that State party ensure that journalists, human rights defenders and individuals are able to freely exercise their right to freedom of expression, in accordance with article 19 of the Covenant and the Committee’s general comment No. 34 (2011) on the freedoms of opinion and expression. Any restrictions on the exercise of freedom of expression should comply with the strict requirements of article 19, paragraph 3, of the Covenant. Furthermore, the State party should ensure that acts of aggression, threats and intimidation against journalists are investigated, prosecuted and punished and victims provided with appropriate remedies.  HR Committee urged the State party to ensure that individuals fully enjoy their right to freedom of assembly. The State party should adopt a law regulating the freedom of assembly, imposing only restrictions that are in compliance with the strict requirements of article 21 of the Covenant. Special Procedures  The Special Rapporteur on freedom of expression (2008) urged Ukraine to guarantee that crimes against media professionals and opinion-makers will not go unpunished. The Special Rapporteur also called for a broad and comprehensive revision of media legislation, especially on TV and radio broadcasting, to increase TV and radio broadcasting bodies’ independence from political lobbies.  The Special Rapporteur urged Ukraine to ensure that human rights defenders do not face harassment or discrimination and to create a safe environment conducive to their work. UPR Recommendations (2012)      Further promote freedom and pluralism of the media as key elements for enabling the exercise of freedom of expression. Create an enabling environment for journalists and media professionals and ensure fully transparent and impartial investigation and prosecution in all cases of attacks against them. Further develop measures to fully guarantee freedom of expression, particularly the protection of the integrity of persons working in the media in the exercise of that right. Ensure better protection of journalists and combat abuse and violence to which they are subject. Pursue measures against State organs which attempt to limit media and journalists. 185 | P a g e