In the framework of permanent cooperation with the United Nations bodies and agencies, our Association sent the submission to the Expert Mechanism on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples for its next study on the rights of Indigenous Peoples in conflict and post-conflict situations.
Our submission, prepared by Eduard Pleshko, Anna Prykhodko, and other experts, published by UN now, reminded of the issues of terroristic aspects of the Russian aggression against Indigenous Peoples of Ukraine, including activities of Russia-financed and Russian-controlled activities of terroristic groups on the Russia-occupied territories and Ukraine’s activities to defend rights of indigenous peoples of Ukraine, including Indigenous Peoples’ free, prior, and informed consent.
The ARC submission reminded of the illegal ban of the Mejlis of Crimean Tatar People by Russia and the broad challenges in the area of Crimean Tatar traditional economies, including issues of fishery, aquaculture, and melioration, caused by Russian occupation and environmental war crimes committed by Russia in the Ukrainian South.
The ARC submission also described the processes of the legalization of the Mejlis of Crimean Tatar people in the jurisdiction of Ukraine, as well as the Ukrainian strategic and program documents regarding processes of reintegrating Crimea after its de-occupation that included some aspects of Indigenous Rights’ realization, relevant activities of the Strategic Forum “Future of Crimea,” and the International Crimea Platform.
The ARC submission stressed that the UN thematic reports on Indigenous Rights in conflict and post-conflict situations, including the conditions of hostilities, interstate conflicts, aggressions, and foreign occupation against Indigenous Peoples, must reflect the relevant demands of the Rome Statute, Geneva Conventions, and Additional Protocols, as well as the models of transitional justice, including issues of Indigenous right to sustainable development.
Relevant submission of the Crimean Tatar Resource Center, also sent to the Expert Mechanism and published by it, also reminded about repressions, tortures, discrimination, and enforced disappearances committed by Russia in Crimea and emphasized the role of the participation of Indigenous Peoples in peacebuilding and post-conflict processes as an integral part of sustainable peace, which directly follows from their right to participate in decision-making.
In this context, the experience of the Crimean Tatar people is important, given their combination of long-term experience of collective violence and systematic human rights violations and their active peacemaking stance, the Center stressed, pointing to its role in the organization of the UN Global Summit on Indigenous Peacebuilding.
