Every year on August 9, intercultural Melitopol commemorates the International Day of the World's Indigenous Peoples, as the city's population comprises nearly one hundred different nationalities and ethnic groups, including important community of Tatars, Karaites and Crimean Tatars. This year’s Day is of particular significance for Melitopol as the President of Ukraine has recently signed the Law on Indigenous Peoples (July 21, 2021), which recognizes Tatars, Karaites and Crimean Tatars as indigenous peoples of Ukraine. The Law also aims to protect the cultural, informational and other rights of indigenous peoples, provide them with mechanisms and tools to cooperate effectively with the Ukrainian state, and officially recognizes their representative bodies.

To mark the occasion, an interactive roundtable discussion titled "The Law on Indigenous Peoples as a Guarantee of Sustainable Development of the State" will be held on August 9 in Melitopol with the support of the city’s Mayor, Mr. Ivan Fedorov and in cooperation with the National Network of Intercultural Cities of Ukraine (ICC-UA), the Ashburn Institute ICC - Europe, and the Council of Europe project "Protecting National Minorities, Including Roma, and Minority Languages in Ukraine".

Members of the Ukrainian Parliament, national and local coordinators of the Ukrainian Network of ICC Cities, the coordinator of the project "Protecting national minorities, including Roma, and minority languages in Ukraine", representatives of national minorities, ethnic groups and cultural societies, civil servants, scientists, educators and journalists will join the discussion on the creation of effective mechanisms for the implementation of cultural, political, social and economic rights and freedoms of indigenous peoples.

By Kseniya Rubicondo, National ICC-UA Coordinator

 Facebook of the Ukrainian Network of Intercultural Cities