Professional paper
RIGHTS OF NATIONAL MINORITIES IN UKRAINE - CONFORMITY OF THE NATIONAL LEGAL SYSTEM WITH THE INTERNATIONAL LEGAL FRAMEWORK
Marin Milevoj
orcid.org/0009-0000-3812-5317
; Josip Juraj Strossmayer University of Osijek, Faculty of Law Osijek
*
* Corresponding author.
Abstract
The rights of national minorities in Ukraine have recently come into focus due to the Russian
invasion and Ukraine’s aspirations towards membership in the European Union. This paper
examines whether Ukraine fulfills its international legal obligations in the sphere of protection
of the rights of national minorities. The first part of the paper focuses on the exposition of the
relevant norms of international law adopted at the level of the United Nations and the most
important regional international organizations, such as the Council of Europe and the OSCE.
This is followed by an overview of selected legislation of Ukraine, in particular the Law of
Ukraine on Education, the Law of Ukraine on Support for the Functioning of the Ukrainian
Language as a State Language, and the Law on National Minorities (Communities). By
comparing international and national legal norms, together with the opinions of the Venice
Commission, a conclusion is reached about the level of rights of national minorities in Ukraine
and the fulfillment of the European legal framework and set standards in that area. Finally, the
specific problems of the Roma and the Ruthenian national minorities are mentioned, as well
as the legislation related to the indigenous peoples of Ukraine, the aim of the paper being to
round off the topic of the rights of national minorities in Ukraine. It is concluded that although
Ukraine needs to work on some aspects of minority rights, especially regarding teaching in the
languages of national minorities, these shortcomings should not prevent further integration of
Ukraine with the European Union.
Keywords
international law; national minorities; Ukraine; Venice Commission; Ukrainian language
Hrčak ID:
319169
URI
Publication date:
12.7.2024.
Visits: 284 *