A special commission has been created at the Kherson Regional State Administration that will consider appeals regarding discrimination on the basis of sex, gender-based violence, and sexual harassment.
The respective order was signed by the head of the Kherson Regional State Administration Oleksandr Prokudin.
The chair of the commission was appointed as the deputy head of the region, Yevhen Ihnatenko. He is to approve the commission’s personnel composition.
It is noted that the commission will operate on the principle of confidentiality. Complaints can be submitted in writing, through a dedicated confidential email inbox, or orally by phone.
The consideration of a case should last no longer than a month, but in complex situations this period may be extended to 45 days.
A feature of this body’s work is that during the consideration of a complaint the rule of shifting the burden of proof applies: if a person alleges discrimination or harassment, then the accused must prove that it did not occur. If the commission finds signs of a crime, it will immediately transfer the materials to the police, the order states.