39^th session of the UN Human Rights Council

Agenda item 3

Clustered Interactive Dialogue

Special Rapporteur on contemporary forms of slavery

Independent Expert on the promotion of a democratic and equitable international order

Intervention by the Permanent Representative of Ukraine,

Ambassador H.E. Mr. Yurii Klymenko

(10 September 2018)

Mr. President,

We welcome the Report of the Special Rapporteur on contemporary forms of slavery, focusing on the impact of slavery and servitude on marginalized migrant women workers in the global domestic economy.

We commend the work done by the Special Rapporteur as well as positive measures taken by Member States to protect against domestic servitude, reflected therein.

Ukraine ratified the European Convention on Legal Status of Migrant Workers in March 2007. The national legislation of Ukraine contains strong safeguards to ensure protection of migrant workers.

Article 26 of the Constitution of Ukraine stipulates that foreigners and stateless persons legally residing in Ukraine enjoy the same rights and freedoms as the citizens of Ukraine, with the exceptions established by the Constitution, the laws or international treaties of Ukraine.

Taking this opportunity, I would like to draw your attention to the aspect of contemporary forms of slavery, which is a matter of a grave concern to my country. We keep receiving worrying information about the situation in the temporarily occupied territories of Ukraine, where numerous cases of human exploitation take place. For example, citizens and detained persons are forced by the Russian occupation administration to enforced labor, including cleaning the territory, digging trenches, unloading military trucks etc.

We hope that the issue of enforced labor in the territories under temporary occupation will get proper attention in the Special Rapporteur’s reports in the future.

Ukraine remains open for further cooperation with the Special rapporteur.

I thank you.