46th session of the UN Human Rights Council

Agenda Item 3 

Interactive dialogue with the Special Rapporteur on Minority Issues

Intervention by Delegation of Ukraine

March 15, 2021

Madame President,

Ukraine thanks the Special Rapporteur for his report and welcomes its focus on combatting hate speech against persons belonging to minorities.

Ukraine’s proactive participation in the UN Forum on Minority Issues last November has demonstrated our readiness to contribute substantively to international efforts aimed at protection of minorities from adverse effects of modern technologies.

Our government continues to implement consistent steps focused on ensuring coherence and tolerance in the multiethnic Ukrainian society. A new draft law on the rights of national minorities is under way and Ukraine is committed to deliver on it in inclusive manner. A new Roma Reintegration Strategy 2030 is under Government’s consideration.

The situation on Ukraine’s territories temporarily occupied by Russia however remains dire. The latest OHCHR report on minority issues points at systematic limitations on freedom of religion or belief therein.

The Orthodox Church of Ukraine is particular Russia’s target. Only 9 of its 46 parishes are functioning in occupied Crimea. The number of children studying in Ukrainian has decreased by 54 times - to 249 pupils. Also there is no school with Crimean Tatar language of instruction. Mejlis of Crimean Tatar People still remains banned despite ICJ’s ruling of 2017.

Moreover, the Ukrainian minority in Russia is also targeted, while its national organizations, like the Ukrainian World Congress, are closed under the pretext of “fighting foreign agents”.

We call upon the international community to adequately respond to these violations by Russia.

Thank you.