35th session of the UN Human Rights Council

Agenda item 9

General debates

Statement by Permanent Representative of Ukraine Ambassador

Yurii Klymenko

June 20, 2017

Mr. President

Ukrainian Government reiterates its commitment to prevent and fight all forms of discrimination in our country. We strongly believe that International Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination as well as other relevant human rights instruments provide a comprehensive international legal framework to fight all forms of discrimination and intolerance.

Regrettably, the Russian Federation continues to violate international law, including CERD, in particular, by banning the Mejlis of Crimean Tatars in the illegally occupied Crimea, providing discriminatory policy towards Crimean Tatars and ethnic Ukrainians.

Ukraine filed the case before the International Court of Justice to hold Russia accountable for acts of discrimination, in the course of its aggression against Ukraine, in violation of CERD. Last month, the ICJ adopted a significant ruling on Ukraine’s submission against Russia with certain provisional measures.

The Court indicated that in the occupied Crimea Russia, in accordance with its obligations under CERD, must:

- refrain from maintaining or imposing limitations on the ability of the Crimean Tatar community to conserve its representative institutions, including the Mejlis.

- ensure the availability of education in the Ukrainian language.

We call on the international community to urge Russia to abide by its obligations under CERD highlighted by the ICJ decision.