52nd session of the UN Human Rights Council
Agenda item 9
General Debate
Intervention by Ukraine
(Geneva, 30 March 2023)
Ms. Vice President,
Ukraine aligns itself with the EU statement.
Being a party to a number of international human rights instruments, Ukraine remains committed to the elimination of all forms of racial discrimination in our country and elsewhere in the world, rejecting and condemning all forms of racism without any reservations.
Unfortunately, xenophobia, intolerance, violation of the rights of minorities and indigenous people as well as all disguised manifestations of racism are still threatening human rights and the rule based order.
The Russian unprovoked aggression against Ukraine has put the lives of millions of people in Ukraine of all races and ethnic origin at high risk. It is important that all those seeking safety from Russia’s ongoing brutal attacks should be offered adequate protection and assistance without discrimination, including on the basis of racial, national and ethnic identity.
Ms. Vice President,
As Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelenskyy stated, and I quote: “Racism and Nazism once asserted the alleged superiority of one race or nation over others, and now a new term has appeared - "rashism", which describes the so-called "Russian world", in which Russia does not recognize the right to existence of the multi-million Ukrainian people, its language and culture”.
In Crimea, the Russian occupying authorities made the indigenous Crimean Tatars, Ukrainians and all those who oppose the occupation the main targets of discrimination and repressive policies.
Until today Russia defies the order of the International Court of Justice in connection with Russia’s violation of International Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination, demanding Russia to lift a ban on the Mejlis, a self-governing body of Crimean Tatars and ensure the availability of education in the Ukrainian language in the temporarily occupied Crimea.
Russia must put an end to its policy of discrimination and cultural erasure directed against the people of Ukraine.
We call on the international community to continue joint efforts to promote racial equality and to eradicate all forms of discrimination and intolerance, including “rashism”.
All desperate attempts by Russia to misuse and abuse this Council for justifying its aggression against Ukraine, including through unlawful participation of the representatives of its occupation administrations in Crimea in the Council’s meetings, must be strongly rejected. There is no place in this Council for the accomplices to Russia’s crimes.
I thank you!