Ukraine - protecting national minorities, including Roma, and minority languages
The Council of Europe continues to support its member states to implement European human rights standards at national level through revision of legislation, capacity development and exchange of best practices.
To contribute to this process, the Council of Europe is implementing a project on ''Protecting national minorities, including Roma, and minority languages in Ukraine''. The project started in March 2018 and it is part of the Council of Europe Action Plan for Ukraine 2018-2021.
How will it work?
- Through the bilateral work with the public authorities in charge of minority issues;
- Expertise and advice provided to strengthen the institutions dealing with national minorities and the consultations with national minorities;
- Capacity building activities for national minority organisations and public authorities, to support the development of knowledge about related CoE standards and recommendations;
- The project is based on concrete recommendations of the two monitoring bodies of the Council of Europe’s Framework Convention for the Protection of National Minorities and the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. It is also linked to the work programme of the Ad Hoc Committee of Experts on Roma and Traveller Issues (CAHROM).
Expected results
- Strengthening the protection of national minorities and minority languages in Ukraine by reinforcing relevant policies, improving consultations with national minorities, strengthening the capacities and competences of public authorities dealing with the protection of national minorities and raising public awareness.
- Facilitating the receipt of identity documents by Roma without IDs, including internally displaced Roma.
- Institutionalising and reinforcing the recognition of the profession of Roma health mediator in Ukraine; improving access of Roma communities to public health care and social services.
Partners
- National authorities involved in the protection of national minorities, including Roma, and minority languages – Ministry of Culture, Ministry of Education and Science, Office of the Ombudsperson, Ministry of Social Policy, Ministry of Internal Affairs, Ministry of information Policy, State Migration Service, National Police and others.
- Regional State Administrations and district administrations of Ukraine dealing with protection of national minorities.
- Civil society organisations, including national minorities’ organisations.