On Thursday, March 2, the founding meeting of the Expert Council on National Minorities and Indigenous Peoples of Ukraine under the Representative of the Commissioner for Equal Rights and Freedoms, Rights of National Minorities, Political and Religious Views was held at the Office of the Secretariat of the Commissioner of the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine for Human Rights.
The meeting participants were introduced to the Representative of the Commissioner for Equal Rights and Freedoms, Rights of National Minorities, Political and Religious Views Mykhailo Spasov. Also during the meeting, the co-chair of the Expert Council Ashot Avanesian and the secretary of the Expert Council Liudmyla Kovalenko were elected.
The meeting participants discussed the activities of the Expert Council and the procedure for its work, as well as plans for 2023. Chairman of the Board of the Crimean Tatar Resource Center, member of the Mejlis of the Crimean Tatar people, Chairman of the SCFC Public Council Eskender Bariiev welcomed the creation of this Council.
“I want to welcome the creation of this council because this is a very important step, because it will help shape the state policy to protect the rights of national minorities and indigenous peoples”,- he stressed.
After reviewing the action plan, Barieev stressed that it is necessary to focus on expertise, analytics, analysis and expertise.
“Therefore, it is very important for us that we receive more information, work, among other things, with various international similar centers, prepare the necessary recommendations and reports for special universal mechanisms of the UN and other international organizations”,- he added.
Bariiev stressed that it is also necessary to develop and provide analytical products related to the impact of the war on national minorities and indigenous peoples, and what is the state policy of Ukraine in protecting national minorities and indigenous peoples.