On August 9, Deputy Minister Mariana Betsa took part in the panel discussion "Preserving Memory: The Heritage of Indigenous Peoples of Ukraine," dedicated to the International Day of the World’s Indigenous Peoples and organized by the Mission of the President of Ukraine in the Autonomous Republic of Crimea.

The discussion focused on the protection of the rights of indigenous peoples, in particular the importance of preserving the intangible and material cultural heritage of Crimean Tatars, Karaites, and Krymchaks, especially under the conditions of Russia's ongoing full-scale war against Ukraine, as well as on the importance of holding Russia, the aggressor state, fully accountable for its crimes committed against Ukraine.

Mariana Betsa emphasized that protecting the rights of indigenous peoples is an integral part of Ukraine's state policy in the field of human rights and democratic development, as well as an important international priority. She stressed that without indigenous peoples, there would be no modern Ukraine, and that their identity and cultural heritage form the foundation of Ukrainian statehood.

"Since 2014, Russia has been waging armed aggression against Ukraine and its indigenous peoples, depriving people in the temporarily occupied territories of their right to their own identity, language, and culture. Our goal remains clear: the complete de-occupation of Crimea and bringing Russia to justice. Ukraine will continue to work with all partners for a just and lasting peace," the Deputy Minister said.

Mariana Betsa informed about the steps that Ukraine is taking to protect the rights of indigenous peoples on the platforms of international organizations, including within the framework of the UN Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues, OSCE, Council of Europe and other international bodies, as well as the International Crimean Platform. Active work is underway to secure international recognition by the world community of the 1944 deportation of the Crimean Tatar people as an act of genocide.

The Deputy Minister also announced plans to bring an updated resolution regarding the human rights situation in temporarily occupied territories of Ukraine for the consideration of the 80th session of the UN General Assembly.

The discussion was also attended by the Chairman of the Mejlis of the Crimean Tatar People Refat Chubarov, Permanent Representative of the President of Ukraine in the Autonomous Republic of Crimea Olha Kuryshko, Head of the State Service of Ukraine for Ethnic Policy and Freedom of Conscience Viktor Yelensky, and Head of the Ukrainian Institute of National Remembrance Oleksandr Alfyorov. Leader of the Crimean Tatar people Mustafa Dzhemilev also took part in the event.