The presentation of the implementation of the recommendations from the Special Report by the Ukrainian Parliament Commissioner for Human Rights, Dmytro Lubinets, entitled "The State of Observance of the Rights of National Minorities (Communities) and Indigenous Peoples in the Context of the Armed Aggression of the Russian Federation against Ukraine” was held. It is the first—and so far the only—systematic document of its kind prepared since the beginning of the full-scale invasion.
The event took place on April 23, 2025, with the support of the joint project of the European Union and the Council of Europe "Support for implementing European standards relating to anti-discrimination and rights of national minorities in Ukraine".
This Special Report It includes 75 recommendations for government authorities across areas such as education, language policy, documentation, and anti-discrimination efforts etc. The report and its accompanying recommendations have become an important reference point for Ukrainian institutions in aligning with European standards on the rights of national minorities (communities) and indigenous peoples.
As of today, 76% of the recommendations have been implemented or are currently in the process of implementation. The highest levels of implementation have been demonstrated by the Ministry of Education and Science of Ukraine, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine, the Mission of the President of Ukraine in the Autonomous Republic of Crimea, and regional military administrations—ranging from 87.5% to 100%. In contrast, the State Migration Service of Ukraine has implemented only 8% of the recommendations.
Issues related to documentation among members of the Roma community and combating discrimination remain particularly pressing. One of the key unresolved problems is the absence of administrative liability for acts of discrimination.
Following the presentation, a broad discussion took place regarding the implementation status of the recommendations developed within this document, involving representatives of relevant state institutions and representatives of Ukraine’s national minorities (communities).
Among the main challenges to implementing the recommendations, participants highlighted the ongoing armed aggression by the Russian Federation, the fragmentation of responsibilities among state institutions, bureaucratic obstacles, and shortcomings in legal procedures.
Based on the discussion, a consolidated document summarizing the implementation status of the recommendations will be prepared and submitted to the Prime Minister of Ukraine and Members of the Ukrainian Parliament.
The Ukrainian Parliament Commissioner for Human Rights, Dmytro Lubinets, emphasized that the protection of the rights of national minorities and indigenous peoples remains a key priority for both Ukraine's domestic policy and its European integration efforts. The observance of relevant standards is under close scrutiny by the European Commission.
