Item 3
Intervention by Ukraine
General debate
(Geneva, July 1, 2019)
Mr. President,
In promoting and protecting human rights, every building block, which contributes to their enjoyment, is important.
For the realization of Article 21 of the UDHR, the proper functioning of a state language – the language used in the government – plays a significant role.
Last April, the Ukrainian Parliament implemented one of the requirements of the Constitution of Ukraine by adopting the Law On ensuring the functioning of Ukrainian as state language.
The Law does not discriminate against the languages of national minorities and foreign languages in the territory of Ukraine. The primary objective of the Law is to eliminate the remnants of a discriminatory approach to the Ukrainian language itself, which is the legacy of the Russian Empire and the USSR.
The Law regulates the functioning and use of Ukrainian as state language throughout Ukraine.The Ukrainian language shall be used by public authorities and local self-government bodies, as well as in other spheres of public life.
The Law guarantees the rights of national minorities and indigenous peoples to use their languages in pre-school and primary education, and the right to learn those languages in the institutions of general secondary education or through national cultural societies.
The peculiarities of the use of languages of national minorities and indigenous peoples will be determined by a separate law in accordance with the obligations of Ukraine pursuant to the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages.
The Law on the state language does not apply to the sphere of private communication and religious rites.
As recommended by the Venice Commission, the Law provides for an extension until 2023 of the transitional period to apply the provisions of the Law of Ukraine "On Education" for national minorities.
In general, the Law is about ensuring that Ukrainian citizens have no problems with learning the state language, which is a necessary prerequisite for both maintaining national identity and realizing the right for everyone to equal access to public service in the country.
I thank you.