The Ukrainian World Congress (UWC) urges UNESCO to condemn human rights violations in the illegally occupied Autonomous Republic of Crimea (Ukraine) by the Russian Federation and, adhering with UNESCO’s mandate, to continue monitoring fundamental human rights and freedoms in Crimea in the areas of education, science, culture, communication and information in accordance with the UN Universal Declaration of Human Rights.
Since the illegal occupation by the Russian Federation of the Autonomous Republic of Crimea (Ukraine) over one year ago, the occupying regime continues to violate the fundamental human rights and freedoms of residents:
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National minorities in the Autonomous Republic of Crimea, notably Crimean Tatars, are not afforded the opportunity to study in their native tongue. There is no longer a single one of the six hundred schools in the Autonomous Republic of Crimea offering instruction fully in Ukrainian; -
Cultural treasures, including the State Enterprise of Ukraine International Children’s Center “Artek” under the auspices of UNESCO since 2006, are being expropriated by the Russian Federation; -
Broadcasts of Ukrainian language TV networks and many Crimean Tatar media outlets have been shut down by Russian occupying forces, including ATR TV, the last independent television station in the world serving Crimean Tatars. Journalists suffer harassment, violence and threats; -
Residents have been subjected to persecution and intimidation as part of a concerted effort to silence and isolate them from the rest of Ukraine.
“The Ukrainian World Congress urges UNESCO to condemn the human rights violations in the illegally occupied Autonomous Republic of Crimea and continue monitoring the brazen violations of international law on the Crimean peninsula by the Russian occupying forces,” stated UWC President Eugene Czolij.
More information on human rights violations in Crimea is available in the recent report by The Atlantic Council and Freedom House Human Rights Abuses in Russian-Occupied Crimea.
