By KYIV. May 12 (Interfax-Ukraine) – The Cabinet of Ministers of Ukraine has approved the concept of the Unity in Diversity state target national cultural program until 2034.
“It substantiates the need to develop an appropriate state target program, determines the best option for solving topical issues in the field of ethnopolitics and sets of measures within the program,” the press service of the Deputy Prime Minister for European and Euro-Atlantic Integration says.
It is noted that the concept complies with the Law On national minorities (communities) of Ukraine and defines the goal of the program to create permanent institutional conditions to meet the needs and effective implementation of the rights and opportunities of national minorities and indigenous peoples of Ukraine in accordance with international legal standards.
According to the statement, the concept proceeds from the expediency of a national direction and coordination of state policy in the interethnic relations, national minorities, protection of the rights of indigenous peoples of Ukraine with attention to regional specifics.
In particular, the concept provides for the implementation within the program: providing adequate opportunities for obtaining complete general secondary education in the languages of national minorities and indigenous peoples of Ukraine simultaneously with the state language, learning the languages of national minorities, indigenous peoples of Ukraine under national legislation; introduction in institutions of general secondary education of components aimed at deepening the understanding of the ethnic diversity of Ukraine and the world by introducing changes to curricula; measures for cooperation with EU member states to ensure the educational rights of national minorities in Ukraine; support for projects and events aimed at preserving and revitalizing the languages and cultures of national minorities; measures aimed at preserving the cultures and historical memory of national minorities and indigenous peoples of Ukraine; measures aimed at overcoming the consequences of the Russian armed aggression in the context of ensuring the rights of national minorities; improvement of mechanisms for preventing and combating discrimination against persons belonging to national minorities; amendments to the legislation in order to increase the access of public associations of national minorities and indigenous peoples of Ukraine to the possibilities of renting premises to ensure statutory activities; introduction of a mechanism for national and regional support programs on a competitive basis for projects and activities of civil society aimed at supporting and developing the cultural and linguistic identity of national minorities; creation of a state support program for registered media that purposefully promote the development of languages and cultures of national minorities; conducting nationwide and regional studies in order to update and monitor these topical issues in the field of interethnic relations, national minorities and the protection of the rights of indigenous peoples of Ukraine.
It is noted that the program is designed for the period from 2024 to 2034.
“The approval of the concept is another step on the path of Ukraine’s movement towards EU membership. The European Commission, in its conclusion on granting Ukraine the status of a candidate for membership in the European Union, recommended that certain steps be taken, in particular in the context of ensuring the rights of persons belonging to national minorities (communities),” the government said in a statement.
