List of Draft Laws Important for European Integration to Be Included in the Agenda of the XV Session of the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine — Position of Human Rights Defenders

POSITION

LIST OF DRAFT LAWS IMPORTANT FOR EUROPEAN INTEGRATION TO BE INCLUDED IN THE AGENDA OF THE XV SESSION OF THE VERKHOVNA RADA OF UKRAINE

The protection of fundamental rights and freedoms is a fundamental component of European integration of Ukraine, as it covers all negotiating chapters of the country’s accession to the European Union. Without respect for human rights, no policy area can function properly or deliver the results of European integration for which the European community was established.

On the eve of the fifteenth session of the ninth convocation of the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine, a coalition of human rights organisations identified a list of ten priority draft laws, the revision and adoption of which is necessary for the implementation of Ukraine’s European integration commitments. The adoption of these draft laws with the necessary amendments will not only bring the country closer to EU standards and norms, but also strengthen the rule of law and establish a reliable state system that will adequately protect the rights of every citizen by addressing existing legal gaps in the legislation.

The Top 10 reflects the common position of the Ukrainian human rights community on draft laws that require priority attention from the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine during its fifteenth session.

We recommend that the following draft laws be revised and adopted:

1. Draft Law on Personal Data Protection (reg. No. 8153  dated 25 October 2022)

The draft law aims to harmonise Ukrainian legislation with EU standards in the field of personal data protection, in particular the General Data Protection Regulation (Regulation 2016/679). Its adoption, and thus the implementation of a long-standing recommendation by the European Commission, is key to ensuring the right to privacy, increasing trust in state institutions, and developing digital services in line with European standards.

2. Draft law on amendments to the Criminal Code of Ukraine to improve criminal liability for contracting infectious diseases or contracting their pathogens (reg. No. 9398 dated 19 June 2023)

The draft law aims to eliminate discriminatory and outdated approaches in criminal law, ensuring a balance between health protection and human rights protection. Its revision is important for compliance with the principles of non-discrimination and proportionality in line with the practice of the European Court of Human Rights, as well as for the implementation of the Association Agreement between Ukraine and the EU.

3. Draft Law on Appeals (reg. No. 11082 dated 13 March 2024)

The document aims to update the mechanisms for exercising the right of appeal in line with European standards of good governance. The draft law contributes to strengthening citizen participation in public life and the accountability of public authorities, which is an important component of EU democratic standards (in particular, according to Article 10 of the European Convention on Human Rights). Its adoption will meet the European Commission’s requirement set out in the 2025 Enlargement Report.

4. Draft Law on Amendments to Certain Legislative Acts of Ukraine to Bring Them into Compliance with Articles 8 and 14 of the Convention for the Protection of Human Rights and Fundamental Freedoms (European Convention on Human Rights) and Council Regulation (EU) 2016/1104 on Implementing Enhanced Cooperation in the Area of Jurisdiction, Applicable Law and the Recognition and Enforcement of Decisions in Matters of the Property Consequences of Registered Partnerships (reg. No. 12252 dated 27 November 2024)

The draft law aims to ensure respect for private and family life and prohibit discrimination in line with the European Convention on Human Rights and EU legislation. It will eliminate institutional discrimination and ensure equal rights for Ukrainian LGBTIQ+ citizens through the introduction of registered partnership as a form of legal recognition of relationships, with corresponding legal effects.

5. Draft Law on Amendments to the Law of Ukraine On Advertising and Other Laws of Ukraine (reg. No. 12253 dated 27 November 2024)

The draft law aims to bring advertising legislation into line with EU standards (Directive 2010/13), in particular with regard to preventing discrimination and hate speech. Its adoption will help fill gaps in the basic Law on media, protect the rights of digital technology consumers, and ensure equality and human dignity.

6. Draft Law on Amendments to the Criminal Code and the Criminal Procedural Code of Ukraine to Ensure the Completeness of Implementation of the Provisions of International Law on Combating Domestic and Other Forms of Violence, including Against Children (reg. No. 12297 dated 9 December 2024) 

The document ensures more comprehensive implementation of Ukraine’s international obligations, in particular the provisions of the Istanbul Convention. It is key to preventing impunity, effectively protecting victims of domestic violence, including children, and strengthening the criminal justice system in line with EU standards, in particular Directive 2024/1385.

7. Draft Law on the Ukrainian Parliament Commissioner for Human Rights (reg. No. 13181 dated 17 April 2025)

The draft law aims to strengthen institutional independence and establish an effective national human rights protection mechanism. The draft law requires further revision to bring it into line with the Paris and Venice Principles. Its adoption is important for ensuring systematic protection of human rights, which can only be guaranteed by the existence of a strong, independent national human rights institution.

8. Draft Law on Amendments to the Code of Ukraine on Administrative Offences and the Criminal Code of Ukraine on Combating Manifestations of Discrimination (reg. No. 13597 dated 4 August 2025)

The draft law introduces a set of human rights–oriented innovations aimed at protecting vulnerable social groups, in particular by establishing liability for public incitement to violence motivated by intolerance and for crimes committed on the grounds of intolerance, expanding the list of protected characteristics in the basic anti-discrimination law, and shifting responsibility for discrimination not involving violence from the criminal to the administrative sphere. The document is important for the implementation of a broad range of anti-discrimination standards of the EU, the Council of Europe, and the recommendations of ECRI.

9. Draft Law on Amendments to Article 14 of the Law of Ukraine On Free Legal Aid regarding the expansion of the list of persons entitled to free secondary legal aid (reg. No. 14098 dated 3 October 2025)

The document expands the category of persons entitled to free secondary legal aid to include orphans and children deprived of parental care, which is a key element of access to justice. Thus, the draft law will contribute to the implementation of the principle of equality before the law, although it requires further improvement to extend the right to receive such assistance to persons affected by crimes motivated by intolerance.

10. Draft Law on Digital Accessibility in Ukraine (reg. No. 14278 dated 5 December 2025)

The draft law aims to ensure the accessibility of digital services for persons with disabilities and other vulnerable groups in line with EU standards. Its adoption is important for the implementation of the principles of non-discrimination, inclusiveness and equal access to public services.

This publication was compiled with the support of the European Union and the International Renaissance Foundation within the framework “Whole-of-Society Accession” project. Its content is the exclusive responsibility of the authors and does not necessarily reflect the views of the European Union and the International Renaissance Foundation.

The Human Rights Centre ZMINA

The National LGBTI Consortium #LGBTI_PRO

Charitable Organisation “100% Life”

LGBT Human Rights Nash Svit Centre

Kharkiv Institute for Social Research

Ukrainian Women Lawyers Association “JurFem”