176. A few incidents of intolerance were based on sexual orientation and gender identity. On 8 June in Donetsk and on 6 July in Kyiv, LGBT clubs were attacked by armed men. The attackers insulted visitors on the basis of their sexual orientation. Although the LGBT rights parade ‘March of Equality’ planned for 5 July in Kyiv was cancelled, as reportedly police could not guarantee participants’ safety, the organisers of the event still received threats and numerous hate comments in social media. 177. In its previous recommendations, the HRMMU stressed the importance of ensuring inclusivity and equal participation of all in public affairs and political life. The law “On Minorities” adopted in 1992 is declarative and does not provide sufficient legal basis for the active participation of minorities in decision-making processes. Unfortunately, no particular efforts were made to develop a mechanism which could have facilitated participation of all minorities and indigenous peoples in the recent national unity round tables on the constitutional changes. 178. Among positive developments, on 18 June, the Cabinet of Ministers created a Commissioner on Ethno-National Policy. The mandate, defined by the Decree of the Cabinet of Ministers Nr. 164 as of 4 June, is to facilitate cooperation between authorities and civil society to “ensure protection of ethnic and national minorities and indigenous peoples, preserve inter-ethnic unity and concord in Ukrainian society”. The Commissioner should develop and present the Cabinet of Ministers with measures to improve ethno-national policy and to prevent inter-ethnic conflicts and acts of discrimination. IX. POLITICAL RIGHTS 179. In the past few weeks there has been growing frustration expressed by citizens in many different regions (e.g. Ivano-Frankivsk, Ternopil and Lviv) over the way regional and local appointments are made without regard to public opinion. In numerous demonstrations and meetings, people have demanded that they be consulted before such appointments are made and that senior officials, usually appointed by central government, should be of local origin and of people well trusted by the community. Sometimes these protests have been effective in stopping a particular appointment. However, the public lack of trust in political institutions and actors - the result of years of widespread corruption and mismanagement – needs to be systematically addressed, in particular at the regional, district and local levels. It remains to be seen if changes currently being drafted to the Constitution will sufficiently address this issue. 180. Recommendations made in the previous report concerning the conduct of the Presidential election held on 25 May and about the need for inclusive consultations, are pertinent to the anticipated Parliamentary election. This election must be free, fair and transparent. Equally important is the need for political parties and their supporters to refrain from intolerance and hate speech, as well as from harassment or physical attack on candidates, all of which were factors during the Presidential election. It is hoped that a new Parliament will reflect the new political and social reality of the country. 181. Women hold less than 10% of the parliamentary seats in Ukraine and only one woman has a Cabinet position. A draft law that provided for gender quotas, requiring political parties to ensure that women comprised 30% of their party lists of candidates, languished after the first reading last year. 166 | P a g e