43rd session of the UN Human Rights Council
Agenda items 3
Interactive dialogue with the Special Rapporteur on Minority Issues
Intervention by Delegation of Ukraine
March 11, 2020
Madame President,
Ukraine guarantees equal rights to all its citizens and takes consistent measures to ensure inclusiveness of the multicultural Ukrainian society, in particular, by creating conditions for members of national minorities to be effectively involved in the public life and economic activities.
The recent Law on Complete General Secondary Education substantially broadens the opportunities for education in languages of national minorities.
The elaboration of the new draft law on national minorities is under way and Ukraine is committed to deliver promptly on this promise.
As noted in the latest OHCHR report on minority issues, Ukraine has also achieved tangible success in prevention, which led to the notable improvement of safety of Roma settlements.
These successes are in stark contrast to the situation on the temporarily occupied territories of Ukraine.
Since 2014, hundreds of cases of religious or racial discrimination have been documented in Crimea, routinely accompanied with torture and inhumane treatment. Russia continues to ignore ICJ order of 19 April 2017 and UN GA resolutions – the education in Ukrainian language is practically absent, Mejlis of Crimean Tatar People remains banned, Emir-Usein Kuku and others are arbitrary imprisoned.
We call on the international community and HRC mechanisms to pay close attention and adequately respond to continuous oppression of national minorities by the occupying authorities in Crimea.
Thank you.