First Deputy Minister Emine Dzhaparova took part in a thematic event on the sidelines of the 20th session of the UN Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues on "Threats to sustainable development of indigenous peoples in conditions of interstate conflicts on the example of Russia-occupied Crimea".

The event was organized by the Mejlis of the Crimean Tatar people and the Crimean Tatar Resource Center alongside with the Permanent Mission of Ukraine to the UN.

Emine Dzhaparova informed about the ongoing human rights violations on the Crimean peninsula: “During seven years of occupation, Crimea has become a territory of contempt for human dignity and gross human rights violations. Oppressive campaigns, a ban on the Mejlis of the Crimean Tatar People, abuse of anti-terrorism legislation, deprivation of land ownership, systematic policies to change the demographic composition of the peninsula, violations of religious rights, and destruction of cultural heritage – all threaten the very existence of indigenous peoples in Crimea”.

Emine Dzhaparova stressed that such an unlawful policy of the Russian Federation needs constant attention of the international community, including the UN Permanent Forum, the Expert Mechanism and the Special Rapporteur, which were established and are acting to fulfill the purpose of protecting the rights of indigenous peoples.

First Deputy Minister stressed that creation of the Crimea Platform, the priorities of which will be monitoring the human rights situation on the peninsula and implementing relevant initiatives, in particular to protect indigenous peoples in Crimea – Karaites, Crimeans and Crimean Tatars, will become an additional international response to Russia's ongoing arbitrary conduct in the sphere of human rights.