Ukraine: UN Special Rapporteur urges stronger minority rights guarantees to defuse tensions
GENEVA (16 April 2014) – The United Nations Special Rapporteur on
minority issues, Rita Izsák, has urged all parties to find a peaceful
solution to the crisis in Ukraine and take immediate steps to ease
tensions and step back from further violence.
“Minority rights protections should be strengthened as part of a
process of confidence building and to achieve stronger unity in
Ukraine’s diversity,” stated Ms. Izsák, who visited Ukraine from 7 to 14
April at the invitation of the Government. (Check the Special
Rapporteur’s full end-of-mission statement: http://www.ohchr.org/EN/NewsEvents/Pages/DisplayNews.aspx?NewsID=14518&LangID=E)
“The overwhelming majority of minorities and others who I consulted
described harmonious inter-ethnic and inter-faith relations and
conditions of non-discrimination in all spheres of life,” she noted.
“Violence, intimidation or aggression on the basis of national, ethnic
or religious belonging are rare.”
However, the human rights expert warned that “Recent developments in
the country have increased animosity against certain groups and created
an environment of uncertainty and distrust that may create fractures
along national, ethnic and linguistic lines and threaten peaceful
coexistence if not resolved.”
The Special Rapporteur acknowledged that some grievances exist and
must be addressed. “Steps to abolish the 2012 Law on the Principles of
the State Language Policy, although vetoed, created anxiety amongst some
communities, including ethnic Russians, that minority language rights
will be eroded.”
Ms. Izsák called for a revised law to comply with international
standards and for meaningful and inclusive consultations to ensure that
it protects the language rights of Ukraine’s diverse linguistic
communities.
While recognizing the legitimate concerns of minorities and their
right to peaceful protest, the expert underscored that “the current
human rights situation of minorities in Ukraine and the civil and
political, economic, social and cultural conditions that they experience
cannot justify any violent actions or incitement and support of those
actions by any party, national or international.”
“It is essential to begin a process of national dialogue with the
objective of understanding the concerns and issues of all communities
and ensuring that they are addressed appropriately and rapidly. Moderate
voices must come to the fore,” she said. “First and foremost, solutions
to the current situation must come from the Ukrainian people.”
Ms. Izsák noted that the current situation, although framed by some
as an inter-ethnic dispute, has wider political and economic causes,
including widespread corruption, that must be taken into account to help
avoid further ethnic, regional and political polarization.
GENEVA (16 April 2014) – The United Nations Special Rapporteur on
minority issues, Rita Izsák, has urged all parties to find a peaceful
solution to the crisis in Ukraine and take immediate steps to ease
tensions and step back from further violence.
“Minority rights protections should be strengthened as part of a
process of confidence building and to achieve stronger unity in
Ukraine’s diversity,” stated Ms. Izsák, who visited Ukraine from 7 to 14
April at the invitation of the Government. (Check the Special
Rapporteur’s full end-of-mission statement: http://www.ohchr.org/EN/NewsEvents/Pages/DisplayNews.aspx?NewsID=14518&LangID=E)
“The overwhelming majority of minorities and others who I consulted
described harmonious inter-ethnic and inter-faith relations and
conditions of non-discrimination in all spheres of life,” she noted.
“Violence, intimidation or aggression on the basis of national, ethnic
or religious belonging are rare.”
However, the human rights expert warned that “Recent developments in
the country have increased animosity against certain groups and created
an environment of uncertainty and distrust that may create fractures
along national, ethnic and linguistic lines and threaten peaceful
coexistence if not resolved.”
The Special Rapporteur acknowledged that some grievances exist and
must be addressed. “Steps to abolish the 2012 Law on the Principles of
the State Language Policy, although vetoed, created anxiety amongst some
communities, including ethnic Russians, that minority language rights
will be eroded.”
Ms. Izsák called for a revised law to comply with international
standards and for meaningful and inclusive consultations to ensure that
it protects the language rights of Ukraine’s diverse linguistic
communities.
While recognizing the legitimate concerns of minorities and their
right to peaceful protest, the expert underscored that “the current
human rights situation of minorities in Ukraine and the civil and
political, economic, social and cultural conditions that they experience
cannot justify any violent actions or incitement and support of those
actions by any party, national or international.”
“It is essential to begin a process of national dialogue with the
objective of understanding the concerns and issues of all communities
and ensuring that they are addressed appropriately and rapidly. Moderate
voices must come to the fore,” she said. “First and foremost, solutions
to the current situation must come from the Ukrainian people.”
Ms. Izsák noted that the current situation, although framed by some
as an inter-ethnic dispute, has wider political and economic causes,
including widespread corruption, that must be taken into account to help
avoid further ethnic, regional and political polarization.
minority issues, Rita Izsák, has urged all parties to find a peaceful
solution to the crisis in Ukraine and take immediate steps to ease
tensions and step back from further violence.
“Minority rights protections should be strengthened as part of a
process of confidence building and to achieve stronger unity in
Ukraine’s diversity,” stated Ms. Izsák, who visited Ukraine from 7 to 14
April at the invitation of the Government. (Check the Special
Rapporteur’s full end-of-mission statement: http://www.ohchr.org/EN/NewsEvents/Pages/DisplayNews.aspx?NewsID=14518&LangID=E)
“The overwhelming majority of minorities and others who I consulted
described harmonious inter-ethnic and inter-faith relations and
conditions of non-discrimination in all spheres of life,” she noted.
“Violence, intimidation or aggression on the basis of national, ethnic
or religious belonging are rare.”
However, the human rights expert warned that “Recent developments in
the country have increased animosity against certain groups and created
an environment of uncertainty and distrust that may create fractures
along national, ethnic and linguistic lines and threaten peaceful
coexistence if not resolved.”
The Special Rapporteur acknowledged that some grievances exist and
must be addressed. “Steps to abolish the 2012 Law on the Principles of
the State Language Policy, although vetoed, created anxiety amongst some
communities, including ethnic Russians, that minority language rights
will be eroded.”
Ms. Izsák called for a revised law to comply with international
standards and for meaningful and inclusive consultations to ensure that
it protects the language rights of Ukraine’s diverse linguistic
communities.
While recognizing the legitimate concerns of minorities and their
right to peaceful protest, the expert underscored that “the current
human rights situation of minorities in Ukraine and the civil and
political, economic, social and cultural conditions that they experience
cannot justify any violent actions or incitement and support of those
actions by any party, national or international.”
“It is essential to begin a process of national dialogue with the
objective of understanding the concerns and issues of all communities
and ensuring that they are addressed appropriately and rapidly. Moderate
voices must come to the fore,” she said. “First and foremost, solutions
to the current situation must come from the Ukrainian people.”
Ms. Izsák noted that the current situation, although framed by some
as an inter-ethnic dispute, has wider political and economic causes,
including widespread corruption, that must be taken into account to help
avoid further ethnic, regional and political polarization.
