Inclusion et anti-discrimination

A key step towards EU accession was taken on January 30th with the presentation and discussion of Ukraine's Action Plan for the Protection of the Rights of National Minorities until 2027. The online meeting, held in Kyiv, brought together representatives from the Ukrainian government, including the Government Office for European and Euro-Atlantic Integration, the Ministry of Education and Science, and the State Service of Ukraine for Ethnopolitics and Freedom of Conscience, as well as representatives from the Council of Europe in Ukraine

Oleksandr Ilkov, Director General of the Government Office for European and Euro-Atlantic Integration, presented the Action Plan, which was developed incorporating recommendations from national minority NGOs, the European Commission, and the Council of Europe. The EU and Council of Europe joint project, " Support for implementing European standards relating to anti-discrimination and rights of national minorities in Ukraine" provided expert and technical support during the drafting process.

The Action Plan will help to harmonise the Ukrainian legislation with European standards in the field of anti-discrimination and combating hate crimes based on ethnic grounds. Key focuses include expanding educational opportunities in national minority languages, establishing mechanisms to monitor hate speech, conducting awareness campaigns, and implementing training programs.

The plan also seeks to strengthen the institutional capacity of the State Service for Ethnopolitics and Freedom of Conscience by increasing the involvement of community representatives in political decision-making.Additionally, the plan includes measures to ensure equal access for national minorities to public services and social support. It features initiatives aimed at preserving and promoting cultural diversity through media, public events, and intercultural dialogue. In the context of wartime challenges, particular emphasis is placed on supporting national communities in preserving their cultural identity and raising awareness of their rights.

The joint project EU and Council of Europe will continue to provide expert support to state authorities throughout the European integration process and the further refinement of the Action Plan for the Protection of the Rights of National Minorities until 2027.