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Representative of Mejlis of the Crimean Tatar People Abduraman Egiz Took Part in UN Forum on Minority Issues
30 November 2012
On November 27-28, 2012 the fifths session of the Forum on Minority Issues of the Human Rights Council was held in UN headquarters – Palace of Nations in Geneva. The session was devoted to the 20th anniversary of the “Declaration on minorities, belonging to the national or ethnic, religious and linguistic minorities,” adopted by the UN in December 1992.
The UN General Secretary Mr Pan Gi Mun’s video-address opened the Forum. “This anniversary gives us the possibility to consider the effect of the Declaration on the national laws, policies and practices. After twenty years many problems remain unsolved. Too many minorities face the discrimination, stereotypes, hatred and violence only because they are who they are. The societies said to be judged for their attitude to the most vulnerable members of the society. Let’s face this challenge and let’s work together to implement the principles of the Declaration for the world’s minorities,”- the General Secretary noted.
The UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Mr N.Pillay, the Head of the Human Rights Council Mr L.D. Lacere, the independent expert in minority issues Mr R.Izsak and Forum’s Chairwoman Ms. Soyata Maiga spoke at the session. The speakers made a special emphasize on the necessity to observe the Declaration, stressed the role of the UN bodies concerned in application of the provisions of the document, relating to the encouragement and protection of the minority rights.
The participants of the session discussed the provisions on the national and religious minorities, exchanged opinions on the implementation of the tasks and goals, implied by the Declaration.
The representative of Mejlis of the Crimean Tatar people, the Deputy Head of the Department of foreign relations of Mejlis of the Crimean Tatar people Abduraman Egiz addressing the audience told in brief about Mejlis’ vision and recommendations on the practical application of the Declaration in Ukraine and called the international organizations and UN agencies to assist Ukraine in holding the International Forum on restoration of the rights of the Crimean Tatar people in their homeland, ensuring their security and development in Ukraine.
In the framework of his visit to Geneva Abduraman Egiz met with the representative of Ukraine in the Forum Sergei Ponomarev – the member of the Secretariat of the Ombudsman of the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine. During the meeting the parties exchanged opinions on the possible form of the International Forum on the restoration of the Crimean Tatar people’s rights. The parties agreed to continues the dialogue after their return to Ukraine.
Speech of the Representative of Mejlis of theCrimean Tatar People, Deputy Head of the Department of Foreign Relations of Mejlis Abduraman Egiz at the fifths session of the Forum on Minority Issues of the Human Rights Council
Madam Chair,
Ladies and Gentlemen,
Stating the position of Mejlis of the Crimean Tatar People regarding the implementation of the Declaration in Ukraine I would like to cover some issues of the agenda.
During the past 20 years, the lifespan of the UN Declaration on minorities, no law was adopted in Ukraine concerning the restoration of the social, economic, political and cultural rights of the Crimean Tatar people. As these social problems accumulate, the problems of land, religion, language, and Crimean Tatar political participation become more sensitive.
In response to these issues, Mejlis of the Crimean Tatar People is trying to engage and trying to be innovative by holding the International Forum on restoration of the rights of the Crimean Tatar people in their homeland, ensuring their security and development in Ukraine.
We held a number of meetings and consultations with the heads of the diplomatic missions and international organizations, the leading politicians and experts in Ukraine and other countries, the MEPs, and representatives of the Council of Europe. The idea of hosting an international forum has found a broad audience.
We are trying to engage in a collaborative way, but we have faced with the lack of the political will, despite our attempts to reach out. Perhaps the UN could assist the Ukrainian government in conducting the International Forum on the restoration of the rights of the Crimean Tatar people in their homeland, ensuring their security and guaranteeing of development in Ukraine.
In response to all of these issues:
States are required to cooperate fully with the various international institutions, including the recommendations and implement them and, if necessary, jointly seek ways to resolve the situation with the involvement of stakeholders;
States that have not yet adopted legislation to ensure the preservation and development of identity, have to do it;
– we are concerned about the lack of a deliberate policy of minority representation in government. This leads to discrimination through political speculation during and after the elections;
– it is necessary to develop and implement a proactive policy in the field of education in the mother language as well as a focus on discussion of the issues of pluralism and the contribution of minorities in society and debunking negative stereotypes and myths;
– we believe that the difficult economic conditions, the government should ensure that the initiatives of austerity and other measures to improve the situation does not have a disproportionately negative impact on minorities, who may be more vulnerable.
Thank you for your attention.
