Mr President,

I have the honour to deliver this statement on behalf of the States of Lublin Triangle - Lithuania, Poland and my own country Ukraine.

The recognition of Indigenous Peoples as distinct rights-holders under international law is crucial. The refusal of States to acknowledge them or even to deny their very existence, cannot extinguish inherent rights. Yet such actions weaken the ability of States to fulfill their obligations of protection.

It speaks volumes that today the Indigenous Peoples of Ukraine must defend their existence in their ancestral homeland. The ongoing occupation of Crimea by the Russian Federation has resulted in grave violations, threatening their cultural identity, community life and survival.

Since 2014, the Indigenous Peoples of Ukraine have faced continuous abuses: the prohibition of Ukrainian-language education, forced conscription into the occupying army, and severe restrictions on cultural and religious expression. The militarization of Crimea has further devastated Indigenous communities, disproportionately harming women and children, while accelerating environmental degradation and the exploitation of natural resources. These actions violate international law and risk causing irreversible harm to future generations.

It is imperative that the international community remain steadfast in upholding the rule of law and protecting the rights of Indigenous Peoples.

Therefore we call upon all Member States and relevant human rights mechanisms to ensure accountability for ongoing abuses in Crimea, safeguard the cultural identity of the Crimean Tatars, Karaims, and Krymchaks, and reaffirm that no occupation or denial can erase inherent rights.