On May 21, our Association’s expert Borys Babin took part in events dedicated to the Day of Interethnic Harmony and Cultural Diversity, organized in Kyiv at the M.M. Hryshko National Botanical Garden by the State Service of Ukraine for Ethnic Affairs and Freedom of Conscience and representatives of ethnic communities.
The event, which included the All-Ukrainian Forum of Ethnic Minorities (Communities) and Indigenous Peoples of Ukraine, was attended by people’s deputies, representatives of ministries and departments, the Mejlis of the Crimean Tatar People, ethnic community non-governmental organizations, and diplomats accredited in Ukraine from Canada, Moldova, Romania, Poland, and other countries.
During the Forum, the ARC expert discussed with its participants aspects of activities to protect the rights of representatives of ethnic communities and indigenous peoples in the context of large-scale Russian aggression and occupation of the territories of Ukraine, including Crimea.
In particular, the issues of the current organizational and managerial situation that developed after the Mejlis of the Crimean Tatar people was granted the status of a representative body of the indigenous people of Ukraine were raised, current parliamentary initiatives regarding amendments to the legislation of Ukraine on indigenous peoples, and the prospects of relevant human rights activity on international platforms were discussed.
