Last week, Ukrainian women’s rights and LGBTQI activist activist Vitalina Koval, with the support of Amnesty International UK, came to the UK Parliament to discuss women's and LGBTQI rights in Ukraine with APPG on Global LGBT+ Rights members Lord Cashman, Martin Docherty-Hughes MP, Crispin Blunt MP, and the Rt Hon Nick Herbert CBE MP, chaired by APPG LGBT+ Vice-Chair Stewart McDonald MP.
While there have been some positive developments in Ukraine in recent months, the overall situation remains extremely concerning human rights in general and LGBT+ rights in particular.
In her hometown of Uzhgorod, western Ukraine, Vitalina is coordinating the work of a community centre for LGBTI people which offers peer to peer support for LGBTI people. As an outspoken LGBTI advocate and activist Vitalina has suffered attacks and was in March 2018 attacked for speaking up for her and other’s rights at a protest held on International Women’s Day. A radical group called "Karpatska Sich" doused her with red paint while she was participating in the event causing chemical burns.
Thank you Vitalina and Amnesty International UK!