39^th session of the UN Human Rights Council

Agenda item 9

General debate

Intervention by the Delegation of Ukraine

25 September 2018

Mr. President,

Ukraine remains firmly committed to eliminating all forms of racial discrimination both within its borders and throughout the world.

As it was reminded by the UN Secretary-General, the world will only see progress in the global fight against racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia and related intolerance if all relevant stakeholders deepen their efforts and take relevant measures in this regard. Full and effective implementation of the obligations under international law, including the International Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination, is among the key elements thereof.

We emphasize, in this connection, that Russia must fully implement the Order of the International Court of Justice in the context of Ukraine's lawsuit against the Russian Federation on the application of CERD.

In violation of the Order, the Russian Federation still has not lifted its ban on the activities of the Mejlis of Crimean Tatar people nor restored the availability of education in the Ukrainian language.

Crimean Tatars continue to be a target of regular human rights violations, including enforced disappearances, murder, abductions, and torture, while their leaders are exiled or persecuted. As evidenced by the recent OHCHR report, from 1 January 2017 to 30 June 2018, 86 per cent of the property searches or raids documented by OHCHR affected Crimean Tatars. The communities of Crimean Tatars and ethnic Ukrainians are subject to constant harassment, suppression of cultural rights, abuse and restrictions by the occupying power.

In the temporarily occupied Crimea, out of 16 schools with the Crimean Tatar language of instruction, only seven have remained. All the schools with the Ukrainian language of education were closed.

We draw the attention of the international community to continuing repressions, harassment and intimidation of Ukrainian citizens living in the territories temporarily occupied by Russia.

We reiterate our call on this Council to join Ukraine in insisting that Russia fully comply with its international law obligations and that it should not enjoy impunity for its crimes committed in the occupied Crimea and Donbas.

I thank you.