Crimean Tatars: Statement at the WGIP
Statement by Nadir Bekir, Mejilis of Crimean Tatar People
I would like to speak on the Indigenous Decade. I think it
is a universal question that covers all the question. Some government and some
agencies are proposing something else besides a decade that are educational
programs. We each are very close in the recognition of the rights of Indigenous
peoples but only the first step. States accepted but didn’t take much
action. Ukraine, It did nothing although Ukraine is a state founder of the UN.
I suppose it should be sensitive to the UN. Vice versa, circa 1996 including
its new constitution of the state all political and legal experts was directed
their necessity. During ten years, Ukraine did nothing for the constitutional
provision and even tried to abolish and destroy this provision. They tried to
look at as a misunderstanding. It is very typical that no Ukraine representative
is here. They say they have no idea who are indigenous peoples. They do not
take part in our discussions and they don’t have experience and they don’t
want to have experience in indigenous issues. There are new crimes and abuses
for Indigenous peoples of Ukraine. We see the end of the International Decade,
we are at a worse place than at the beginning. Rights of people deported. This
law was cynically reclaimed 18 May on the anniversary of Crimean Tatar people.
They approved a law on 24 June. President Ukraine failed to sign the law. This
means that this law does not exist. On the basis of some different human rights
violations that took part in the past, Ukraine government don’t want to
restore our rights. We see that legal and political progress is in question.
I propose to my brother and sisters to collect all of our efforts and to establish
the second decade of Indigenous peoples.