Protection of Crimean Tatars’ rights and Mejlis’ proposals for Ukraine: first results of the 24th session of the UN Forum
25 April 16:44
the 24th session of the United Nations Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues (UNPFII), which began on April 21 at the UN Headquarters in New York, was a key event for the global indigenous community.
This year’s theme – “Implementation of the UN Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples in UN Member States and the UN system, including identification of best practices and overcoming challenges” – emphasized the need for practical steps to protect the rights of indigenous peoples around the world.
Established in 2000 as an advisory body to the UN Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC), the Forum brings together representatives of indigenous peoples, Member States, UN agencies and civil society to discuss economic development, culture, education, health, environment and human rights.
Refat Chubarov, Chairman of the Mejlis of the Crimean Tatar people, member of the previous convocations of the Verkhovna Rada, who is a member of the Ukrainian delegation, told "Komersant Ukrainian"
about the practical benefits of Kyiv’s participation in this forum.
Refat Chubarov. Photo from open sources
“Simply put, this is a platform where, once a year, representatives of indigenous peoples speak and discuss all issues that are within the competence of states and international organizations. This is a very wide range of issues, from environmental protection to compensation for the losses of indigenous peoples over the centuries.
Speaking about the effectiveness of this Forum, it is worth noting that it highlights problems and indicates ways to solve them. As a rule, certain topical issues have a good chance of being included in various international documents, including UN resolutions,” he said from New York.
Occupation of the indigenous people
It is no coincidence that the Ukrainian delegation, in addition to Chubarov, included other representatives of the Crimean Tatars: the head of the Crimean Tatar Resource Center Eskender Bariev and international lawyer Suleiman Mamutov.
It is the situation of Ukraine’s indigenous peoples, whose rights are systematically violated due to Russia’s occupation of Crimea and the war, that has attracted particular attention from the international community.
The Crimean Tatars, who constitute the main indigenous group in Crimea, are subjected to systematic persecution, including arrests, torture, and restrictions on cultural activities on the occupied peninsula.
According to human rights defenders, at least 92 Ukrainian citizens, mostly Crimean Tatars, are being held in detention on trumped-up charges of “sabotage” and “espionage,” and 33 people have been abducted from the occupied Zaporizhzhia and Kherson regions since February 2022.
The occupation authorities in Crimea ban the activities of the Mejlis of the Crimean Tatar people, persecute religious and cultural practices, and destroy historical monuments such as the Khan’s Palace in Bakhchisarai.
In addition, many Crimean Tatars who left Crimea after 2014 have faced challenges integrating into mainland Ukraine.
Ukraine and the protection of the rights of indigenous peoples
Ukraine has taken several key steps to protect the rights of indigenous peoples. In 2021, the Law “On Indigenous Peoples of Ukraine” was adopted, recognizing Crimean Tatars, Karaites and Krymchaks as indigenous peoples and guaranteeing them the right to self-determination within Ukraine.
In 2022, the Cabinet of Ministers of Ukraine approved the Concept for the Development of the Crimean Tatar Language until 2032. This document aims to preserve, popularize and develop the Crimean Tatar language. Kyiv is funding programs to preserve the Crimean Tatar language and culture, including educational initiatives, to the best of its ability.
However, in order to overcome the challenges caused by the war and occupation, the authorities can introduce other important measures, including the laws proposed by the Mejlis of the Crimean Tatar people:
A law recognizing the Crimean Tatars as an indigenous people, enshrining the status of the Mejlis as their representative body and granting them the right to self-government, and a law establishing a Crimean Tatar national-territorial autonomy within Ukraine with quotas in government and the official status of the Crimean Tatar language.
Appeal to Ukraine at the UN
A proposal to secure the status of the Mejlis was also made during the session of the UN Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues. It was voiced by the head of the Crimean Tatar Resource Center, which studies violations of the rights of Crimeans on the Russian-occupied peninsula, Eskender Bariev.
He reminded that the process has not moved forward for 18 months. In October 2024, Bariev even filed a lawsuit against the Cabinet of Ministers of Ukraine.
Eskender Bariyev’s speech. Photo: Facebook
In a commentaryto Suspilne, Bariev said that the refusal to grant legal status to the Mejlis would spoil Ukraine’s image at the international level.
“And it is not very clear why the Cabinet of Ministers is doing this. Because it discredits, among others, the President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyy, who initiated the adoption of the Law of Ukraine “On Indigenous Peoples of Ukraine,” Bariev emphasized.
Refat Chubarov also reminded that according to the Law of Ukraine “On Indigenous Peoples,” the Cabinet of Ministers is obliged to assign the status of the Mejlis as a representative body of the Crimean Tatars, as it is a representative body of indigenous peoples.
“The government is delaying this decision. We believe that the Cabinet of Ministers is not fulfilling a certain provision of the current law of Ukraine. However, I have high expectations that this decision will be made soon,” he added.
Despite the fact that Ukraine adopted the Law on Indigenous Peoples of Ukraine in 2021 and is actively working to improve the situation of Crimean Tatars, Kyiv should listen more closely to the voices of Crimean Tatars themselves and their representatives, such as the Mejlis.
Consideration of proposals to establish Crimean Tatar national-territorial autonomy and recognition of the Mejlis as an official body is critical to the effective protection of their rights.
Only the Crimean Tatars themselves know best how to preserve their unique national identity, develop the Crimean Tatar language and build a better future for their people.
This dialogue between the state and the indigenous people will be the key to justice, sustainable development and the restoration of the historical rights of Crimean Tatars within Ukraine.
Author: Asif Aliyev, journalist
