The theoretical and legal foundations of prohibiting discrimination against war veterans
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.37772/2518-1718-2026-1(53)-2Keywords:
principle of equality, human rights, legal status of war veterans, anti-discrimination law, discriminationAbstract
Problem setting. One of the problems of contemporary law is ensuring the observance of the rights of war veterans and their unbiased treatment, which is conditioned by the steady growth of this category among the population and the significance of military feats of war veterans for Ukrainian statehood. Purpose of the research. The purpose of the article is to analyze the theoretical and legal foundations of prohibiting discrimination against war veterans in modern conditions. The article aims to address the following tasks: 1) whether the status of a war veteran falls under the current concept of a “protected ground” in Ukrainian anti-discrimination law; 2) whether veteran status requires independent normative recognition as a basis for enhanced legal protection; 3) the correlation between the principles of equality, non-discrimination, and affirmative action regarding war veterans.the possibility of including the legal status of war veterans among the list of protected grounds in anti-discrimination law. The research is based on works addressing the theory of equality law and criteria for defining protected grounds (Kate Malleson), the justification of interrelations between equality, non-discrimination, and protected characteristics (Sandra Fredman), and the principle of equality (Anne Bayefsky). Ukrainian scholars who have addressed the issue of protected grounds in anti-discrimination law include Yu. V. Pozharov, O. V. Pozharov, S. V. Vyshnovetska, T. A. Doroshenko, among others. Article’s main body. The article examines the problem of rethinking classical approaches to the list of protected grounds in anti-discrimination law and the limits of applying the principle of equality, caused by the transformation of Ukrainian society and the formation of war veterans as a new socially vulnerable group. The author notes that contemporary anti-discrimination law is developing toward an expanded understanding of protected grounds, combining formal, substantive, and rights-based approaches. Current Ukrainian legislation does not explicitly recognize war veteran status as an independent protected ground; however, the category of “other grounds” in the definition of discrimination potentially allows inclusion of veteran status if discriminatory treatment is proven. This indirect approach does not ensure sufficient legal certainty and may complicate the practical implementation of antidiscrimination protection for war veterans. The relationship between the principles of equality, non-discrimination, and affirmative action in modern legislation is analyzed. The principle of equality in contemporary law is considered in a substantive sense, which implies not only a prohibition of unjustified differential treatment but also the state’s duty to eliminate the consequences of structural inequality. In this context, affirmative action is not an exception to the principle of equality but a mechanism for its implementation, aimed at ensuring real equality of opportunities for socially vulnerable groups, including war veterans. Conclusions and prospects for development. It is substantiated that affirmative actions regarding war veterans have a broader scope than traditional measures in labor and social security and encompass a complex of state support in various spheres of social life. A theoretical and legal approach is proposed for considering war veteran status as a potential independent protected ground in anti-discrimination law and for defining the limits of applying affirmative action to this category. It is suggested to normatively enshrine the legal status of war veterans as a protected ground in anti-discrimination legislation to strengthen the guarantees of legal protection for this category of persons. The results can be used for further development of anti-discrimination legislation, law enforcement practice, and the formation of state veteran policy aimed at ensuring real equality and effective protection of the rights of war veterans.
References
1. Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine. (1993, October 22). On the status of war veterans and guarantees of their social protection (Law No. 3551-XII). Retrieved from https://zakon.rada.gov.ua/laws/show/3551-12#Text [in Ukrainian].
2. Sinova, L. M. (2025). The concept of “war veterans” and their classification: Theoretical problems. In Labor and business of war veterans: Legal theory and practice (pp. 7–45). Kharkiv: Scientific and research institute of providing legal framework for the innovative development Retrieved from https://ndipzir.org.ua/wp-content/uploads/2025/12/mono_veterany.pdf [in Ukrainian].
3. Synhaivska, I., & Buzova, V. (2025). Features of reintegration of war veterans into professional activity Scientific Notes of “KROK” University, 4(80), 371–379. https://doi.org/10.31732/2663-2209-2025-80-371-379 [in Ukrainian].
4. Hush, Yu. (2025, August 19). “We still have stigma and discrimination”: What servicemembers with disabilities say about returning to civilian work. Gwara Media. Retrieved from https://gwaramedia.com/u-nas-zalishayutsya-stigma-ta-dyskryminacziya-shho-rozpovidayut-vijskovi-z-invalidnistyu-pro-povernennyado-czivilnoi-roboti/ [in Ukrainian].
5. Mykoliuk, O. (2020). 50% of veterans know what discrimination is: Sociologists studied what combatants need for full reintegration. Den, 17–18. Retrieved from: https://day.kyiv.ua/article/cuspilstvo/50-veteraniv-znayut-shcho-take-dyskryminatsiya? [in Ukrainian].
6. Malgorn, P.-I., & Erler, M. (2024, December 19). Survey on the legal needs of veterans and their family members: Report on the results of a comprehensive study. SREO Consulting; United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) in Ukraine. Retrieved from https://www.undp.org/uk/ukraine/publications/opytuvannya-shchodo-pravovykh-potreb-veteraniv-ok-ta-chleniv-yikhnikh-simey [in Ukrainian].
7. Amelina, Yu., Lavryk, Ya., Tsaturian, A., & Tereshchenko, I. (2025). Difficulties and challenges of reintegrating Ukrainian veterans into civilian life. Ukrainskyi instytut maibutnoho; Vseukrainska profspilka zakhysnykiv Ukrainy, sportsmeniv ta pratsivnykiv sfer; Asotsiatsiia pidpryiemtsiv – veteraniv ATO. Retrieved from https://uifuture.org/publications/vyklyk-povoyennoyi-ukrayiny/ [in Ukrainian].
8. Malleson, K. (2018). Equality law and the protected characteristics. Modern Law Review, 81(4), 598–621. https://doi.org/10.1111/1468-2230.12353
9. Fredman, S. (2022). Preface to the third edition. In Discrimination law (3rd ed.). Oxford: Clarendon Law Series. https://doi.org/10.1111/1468-2230.12353
10. Fredman, S. (2016). Substantive equality revisited. International Journal of Constitutional Law, 14(3), 712–738. https://doi.org/10.1093/icon/mow043
11. Bayefsky, A. F. (1990). The principle of equality or non-discrimination in international law. Human Rights Law Journal, 11, 1–34.
12. Pozharov, Yu. V., & Pozharova, O. V. (2024). International standards on protected characteristics and antidiscrimination legislation of Ukraine. Uzhhorod National University Herald. Series: Law, 85(2). https://doi.org/10.24144/2307-3322.2024.85.2.17 [in Ukrainian].
13. Vyshnovetska, S. V., & Doroshenko, T. A. (2020). The concept and types of discrimination in labor law. Scientific works of Kyiv Aviation Institute. Series Law Journal “Air and Space Law”, 57(4), 103–109. https://doi.org/10.18372/2307-9061.57.15071 [in Ukrainian].
14. Berezniak, V. S., Yunin, O. S., Shablystyi, V. V. et al. (2022). Prevention and counteraction to discrimination in Ukraine. Multiple discrimination (A. Ye. Fomenko, Ed.). Dnipro: Vydavets Bila K. O. Retrieved from https://files.znu.edu.ua/files/Bibliobooks/Inshi84/0064110.pdf [in Ukrainian].
15. Gerards, J., & Zuiderveen Borgesius, F. (2022). Protected grounds and the system of non-discrimination law in the context of algorithmic decision-making and artificial intelligence. Colorado Technology Law Journal. https://doi.org/10.48550/arXiv.2509.08837
16. Hepple, B. A. (2014). Equality: The legal framework. Oxford; Portland, OR: Hart Publishing. Retrieved from https://discovered.ed.ac.uk/discovery/fulldisplay/alma9923032453502466/44UOE_INST:44UOE_VU2
17. O’Cinneide, C. (2006). Positive action and the limits of existing law. Maastricht Journal of European and Comparative Law, 13(3), 351–364. https://doi.org/10.1177/1023263X0601300307.
18. Sheerin, K. (2025, February 12). Introduction to the Equality Act 2017: Protected characteristics. Chambers. Retrieved from https://chambers.com/articles/introduction-to-the-equality-act-2017-protected-characteristics?
19. Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine. (2012, September 6). On the principles of preventing and combating discrimination in Ukraine (Law No. 5207-VI). Retrieved from https://zakon.rada.gov.ua/laws/show/5207-17#Text [in Ukrainian].
20. Campbell-Palmer, O. (2025). Challenging the obscurity of equality and non-discrimination in international human rights law: A literature review. Rule of Law Journal, 5(1). Retrieved from https://ruleoflaw.lse.ac.uk/articles/55/files/68e38ab76b86e.pdf
21. Bernaziuk, Ya. (2025). Prohibition of discrimination as a constitutional-law principle: Concept and features of implementation. Supreme Observer. Retrieved from https://so.supreme.court.gov.ua/authors/137/zaborona-dyskryminatsii-iak-konstytutsiinopravovyi-pryntsyp-poniattia-ta-osoblyvosti-realizatsii [in Ukrainian].
22. Bernaziuk, Ya. (2022). Constitutional guarantees for realizing the right to social protection in Ukraine. In Protection of the rights of ATO/JFO veterans and other servicemembers by administrative courts of Ukraine (pp. 6–21). Retrieved fromhttps://supreme.court.gov.ua/userfiles/media/new_folder_for_uploads/supreme/rizne/230212_1747_ZPV_prew_130223.pdf [in Ukrainian].
23. Ministry for Veterans Affairs of Ukraine. (2025, April 11). Methodological recommendations for employers on organizing employment and developing labor relations with war veterans (Order No. 291). Retrieved from https://mva.gov.ua/pro-zatverdzhennya-metodichnih-rekomendatsiy-dlya-robotodavtsiv-z-organizatsii-pratsevlashtuvannya-ta-rozvitku-trudovih-vidnosin-z-veteranami-viyni-vyd-1 [in Ukrainian].
24. Constitutional Court of Ukraine. (2018, December 18). Decision of the Constitutional Court of Ukraine in the case on social protection of war veterans and their family members (Decision No. 12-r/2018). Retrieved from https://zakon.rada.gov.ua/laws/show/v012p710-18#Text [in Ukrainian].
25. Hlibko, S. V. (Ed.). (2025). Handbook of the main rights, guarantees and benefits of war veterans under the legislation of Ukraine. Kharkiv: Scientific and research institute of providing legal framework for the innovative development. Retrieved from https://ndipzir.org.ua/wp-content/uploads/2025/12/dovidnyk_veterany.pdf DOI: 10.37772/978-617-7806-61-4 [in Ukrainian].
