OSCE High Commissioner on National Minorities discusses how to strengthen the inter-ethnic institutional framework in Ukraine

KYIV, 10 March 2016 - The OSCE High Commissioner on National Minorities and the Ukrainian Parliament's Committee on Human Rights, National Minorities and Inter-ethnic Relations co-organized a roundtable discussion in Kyiv today on strengthening the institutional framework with regard to inter-ethnic relations in Ukraine and in the context of decentralization.

The discussion brought together more than 150 participants representing relevant Ministries, Members of the Ukrainian Parliament, national minority communities, experts, civil society groups and international organizations.

High Commissioner Astrid Thors reiterated that a strong institutional framework would increase the stability of Ukraine by enhancing a dialogue with minorities to jointly address issues of common concern. Thors highlighted the value of bringing Ukraine closer in compliance with European and international standards, and emphasized that the decentralization process offers a unique opportunity to equip the State with appropriate national, regional and local arrangements to build a vibrant and stable democracy.

Hryhoriy Nemyria, Chairman of the Committee on Human Rights, National Minorities and Inter-ethnic Relations, said: "A year ago our Committee organized parliamentary hearings on inter-ethnic relations in Ukraine. Unfortunately, despite the recommendations of the hearings, the Cabinet of Ukraine cancelled the position of the Government's Plenipotentiary on Inter-ethnic relations a month later. This was absolutely inappropriate from the point of view of an adequate institutional framework for inter-ethnic policy."

A number of possible means and instruments to facilitate effective participation were debated during the roundtable discussion. Most participants acknowledged that a functioning institutional framework within the sphere of inter-ethnic relations is indeed a precondition for implementing coherent minority protection and integration policies in a multi-ethnic society like Ukraine.