On April 11, 2016, within the framework of the 199th session of the UNESCO, the Programme and External Relations Commission of the UNESCO Executive Board has considered the report by the Director-General and adopted the decision "Follow-up of the situation in the Autonomous Republic of Crimea (Ukraine)".
The report 199 EX/5 Part I (E) contains the facts of fragrant violations of human and national minorities rights, first of all of the Crimean Tatars and Ukrainians, within the fields of UNESCO competence. Basing on these facts, the conclusion on serious deterioration of the situation in the territory of the peninsula temporarily occupied by the Russian Federation has been drawn.
Adopted by vast majority of votes (17 in favor, 5 against) the document «Follow-up of the situation in the Autonomous Republic of Crimea (Ukraine)» became the fifth decision of the Executive Board on this matter since the illegal occupation of Crimea.
The decision envisages the report by the Director-General to be presented at the 200th session of the Executive Board on the implementation of the previous relevant decisions, in particular with regard to the establishment by the Secretariat of UNESCO of the monitoring mechanism at the institutional level in the Autonomous Republic of Crimea.
Permanent Delegate of Ukraine to UNESCO Mr Oleh Shamshur made a statement in which it was underlined that serious deterioration of the situation in the Autonomous Republic of Crimea and the city of Sevastopol within the fields of UNESCO competence urges the establishment of effective mechanism of monitoring of the situation on the illegally occupied peninsula. The monitoring missions of UNESCO on the ground are expected to become one of the essential elements of this mechanism.
The delegations of the USA, the EU and Turkey expressed their support to Ukraine in their statements made at the outcome of the voting. The speakers reiterated commitment to the UN General Assembly resolution 68/262 of 27 March 2014 «Territorial integrity of Ukraine».