The Advisory Committee on the Framework Convention for the Protection of National Minorities (Council of Europe) adopted on April 1st 2014 its first ever ad hoc report on the situation of national minorities in Ukraine. The report reflects the findings of the delegation of the Advisory Committee during its meetings in Ukraine from 21 – 26 March 2014, in which Sia Spiliopoulou Åkermark participated as president of the Advisory Committee.
The Advisory Committee expresses in the report deep concern about the safety and access to rights of minority populations in Crimea, in particular the Crimean Tatars and persons belonging to the Ukrainian community. The Advisory Committee recommends further that legislative amendments in Ukraine pertaining to national minorities are not to be introduced hastily and should be adopted following a comprehensive and effective consultation process with representatives of all minorities, including smaller ones. The Advisory Committee underlines the full applicability of the rights contained in the Framework Convention throughout the territory of member states, including in areas subjected to the use or threat of force. The Advisory Committee was not able to travel to Crimea in March 2014, among others because of safety concerns for the interlocutors in Crimea. The Committee was able to meet minority representatives from Crimea outside Crimean occupied territory.
More information about the work of the Advisory Committee and the ad hoc report can be found at the homepage of the Council of Europe.
