Tag: news

LGBTQ rights, Ukrainian Politics

(non)discrimination 
of LGBTQI+ people 
in the workplace and inclusive labor market

marynashevtsova3525

(non)discrimination 
of LGBTQI+ people 
in the workplace and inclusive labor market results of a national survey of the LGBTQI+ community

In 2015, the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine voted for the amendment to the
Labor Code of Ukraine that prohibited discrimination of people in the
workplace based on their sexual orientation and/or gender identity. By
2023, there was not a single case in Ukraine submitted to the court in
relation to workplace discrimination based on SOGI. At the same time,
although recent sociological data shows a general improvement in
societal attitudes toward LGBTQ people , LGBTQ people remain one of
the most marginalized minority groups in Ukraine, and the full-scale
invasion has exacerbated their vulnerability. Based on this premise and
on the fact that there has been no research, and no data was collected
on LGBTQ people in the Ukrainian job market. Therefore, the present
report is the first attempt to shed some light on the situation of
Ukrainian LGBTQ people in various sectors of economy. The purpose of
the report was to highlight the main challenges and obstacles that
Ukrainian LGBTQ individuals face in job searches and workplaces.
Designed as a qualitative study and primarily based on in-depth one-toone interviews with LGBTQ Ukrainians, the report has its limitations in
terms of representativeness of the sampling regarding participants’age,
place of residency, and employment sector. Nevertheless, it can serve as
a solid starting point and give a good idea of the issues that need to be
dealt with to make Ukrainian private and public sectors of economy
more inclusive.

See the full text of the report commissioned by Fulcrum UA

LGBTQ rights

LGBTQI+ Refugees from Ukraine in EU countries: Challenges and Needs – June 2023, for Gender Stream

marynashevtsova3525

photo by Olha Poliakova, Gender Stream NGO

About the challenges and problems, the experience of crossing the border, integration and socialization in new conditions and the desire to return to Ukraine — Maryna Shevtsova on the request of the public organization “Gender Stream” and with the generous support of FLAX Foundation conducted the world’s first study of the situation of LGBTQI+ Ukrainians abroad.

According to the results of the study, the main problems of LGBTQI+ refugees in host countries are related to:

  • Searching for affordable and safe housing 
  • Access to friendly medical care 
  • A language barrier that prevents access to the labor market or limits opportunities for employment and socialization.

SEE THE SHORT VERSION OF THE RESEARCH

The research was conducted using in-depth offline and online interviews from December 2022 to May 2023. 34 participants who at the time of the study lived in Austria, Bulgaria, the Czech Republic, Germany, Poland, Romania and Slovakia took part in the survey.

The main researcher was Maryna Shevtsova, candidate of economic sciences, PhD in political science. The study was prepared by the NGO “GENDER STREAM” on the initiative, as well as technical and organizational support of LabLGBTQI_UA and with the financial support of VOICE.

Interview questions covered the following areas:

  • Choice of destination country
  • Border crossing experience
  • Search for housing and work
  • Experience of integration and language courses
  • Experience working with medical and social services. 

Additional attention was paid to socialization, general psychological well-being and connections with local public organizations protecting the rights of LGBTQI+. At the end of the interview, respondents were asked about their future and improvements important for a possible return to Ukraine.

The LGBTQI+ community may experience additional, unique challenges and threats during full-scale war. Studying their experience allows us to identify special needs and problems faced by Ukrainian resettled women and men during relocation and seeking shelter in other countries. In the long run, this will allow for the development of more effective mechanisms for the protection and support of these people in their new places of residence. As a result, it will contribute to the creation of a more empathetic society, reduce stigmatization and discrimination of the LGBTQI community and ensure safety, protection and equal opportunities for its members.