Ukraine, as a future EU member state, is committed to protecting European values, which are based on human rights and equality. This was stated by Olha Stefanishyna, Deputy Prime Minister for European and Euro-Atlantic Integration of Ukraine, at the event "Supporting for Implementating relating to European Standards on Anti-Discrimination and National Minority Rights in Ukraine", organised by the European Union and the Council of Europe in Kraków on 26 September.

"Despite the fact that our country has been in a state of unprecedented war for almost 600 days, Ukraine has been successfully implementing democratic reforms necessary for the transformation, development and strengthening of democratic institutions. Some of these transformations are reflected in the 7 recommendations of the European Commission, the implementation of which is necessary for Ukraine's further progress towards the EU. And the reform of the legislative framework on national minorities (communities) in accordance with the recommendations of the Venice Commission is one of these recommendations," the Deputy Prime Minister said in her online statement.

She stressed that the protection and observance of human rights and freedoms, including the rights of national minorities (communities) in Ukraine, had always been a priority for the Government. Significant progress has been made in this direction over the year.

Thus, in December 2022, after extensive consultations with partners, including the European Commission, the Council of Europe and representatives of national minorities, the Parliament adopted the Law "On National Minorities (Communities) of Ukraine". Following the publication of the Venice Commission's recommendations in June 2023, the Verkhovna Rada amended the Law to improve the legal framework for the exercise of the rights and freedoms of persons belonging to national minorities (communities).

"The adoption of this law has become a significant success for our country. The document, in particular, prohibits any discrimination based on ethnic origin, while guaranteeing freedom of thought, religion, use of national minority languages, preservation of cultural identity and education in the mother tongue. In addition, for the first time, it delineated the responsibilities of state and local authorities for the formation and implementation of state policy in the relevant area, which means that this is a field of separate political planning at all levels - from local to central," said Olha Stefanishyna.

In addition, the Government of Ukraine, together with representatives of communities, has prepared the State National and Cultural Programme "Unity in Diversity" for the period up to 2034, taking into account the recommendations of the Venice Commission.

The purpose of the Programme is to create stable conditions at the national and regional levels to meet the needs and effectively exercise the rights and opportunities of national minorities (communities) and indigenous peoples of Ukraine in accordance with international legal standards, promote intercultural competence, interaction and mutual understanding, and integrate Ukrainian society, taking into account the need to overcome the consequences of armed aggression and russian assimilation policy.

"Ukraine, as an integral part of the European family and a future EU member state, is committed to protecting fundamental European values, which are based on the rights and freedoms of every person and equality. And we will continue to work effectively to implement key democratic transformations, moving closer to victory and a European future," the Deputy Prime Minister added.