For four days, DESS held online meetings of working thematic groups as part of the public discussion of the project of the State target national and cultural program “Unity in Diversity” for the period until 2034, the purpose of which is to create stable institutional conditions at the national and regional levels to meet the needs and effective implementation of the rights and opportunities of persons belonging to national minorities (communities) and indigenous peoples of Ukraine, as well as promoting the strengthening of social stability, cohesion and national unity of Ukrainian society. The approval of the Program is a component of the implementation of European integration recommendations for Ukraine.
The program is developed in an inclusive dialogue and considering the interests of national minorities and indigenous peoples.
At its core, the concept of the program provides for the implementation of a set of measures aimed at creating the proper protection of the rights of national minorities (communities) and indigenous peoples of Ukraine, considering regional specifics.
From August 28 to 31, 2023, an online meeting of 8 working thematic groups took place, the topics of which were:
– ensuring the educational rights of persons belonging to national minorities (communities) and indigenous peoples of Ukraine;
– use of languages of national minorities (communities) and indigenous peoples of Ukraine;
– overcoming the consequences of the armed aggression of the Russian Federation against Ukraine in the context of ensuring the rights of national minorities (communities) and indigenous peoples of Ukraine;
– preservation of cultures and historical memory of national minorities (communities) and indigenous peoples of Ukraine;
– media and information activities in the context of ensuring the rights of national minorities (communities) and indigenous peoples;
– prevention and countermeasures against discrimination of persons belonging to national minorities (communities) and indigenous peoples of Ukraine;
– strengthening the capacity of public associations of national minorities (communities) and indigenous peoples of Ukraine;
– strengthening the institutional capacity of the State Service of Ukraine for Ethnic Affairs and Freedom of Conscience (DESS), providing mechanisms for the participation of national minorities (communities) and indigenous peoples of Ukraine in decision-making.
During the discussion, representatives of the public focused on the issues of education, the use of the native language, ensuring the capacity of public organizations of national minorities (communities) and indigenous peoples of Ukraine and the DESS, the implementation of mechanisms to protect against ethnic discrimination, legal aspects of the activities of evacuated organizations of national minorities, and the possibility of exercising the right to approval the status of representative body of the Karaites, the importance of involvement in decision making in the issues of national minorities (communities) and indigenous peoples of Ukraine in local self-government, the issue of state support for cultural centers of national minorities, the need for more detailed knowledge of progressive international experience in this area and other important points for the communities were voiced.
Deputy Head of DESS Ihor Lossovskyi, who moderated all 8 discussion sessions, thanked all the active participants who joined the online meetings. “Considering the positions of national minorities (communities) and indigenous peoples is key in the preparation of the Program. Our common priority is to ensure the necessary conditions for the development of the linguistic, cultural, ethnic, and religious identity of representatives of national communities and indigenous peoples of Ukraine, as well as to create opportunities for their full integration into Ukrainian society,” Ihor Lossovskyi emphasized.
Until September 3, 2023, DESS will continue consultations in the format of sending comments, remarks and proposals in writing to the e-mail box [email protected].