On May 25, First Deputy Minister for Foreign Affairs of Ukraine and Chair of the National Commission of Ukraine for UNESCO Emine Dzhaparova held a meeting with Chair of the National Commission of Canada for UNESCO Liette Vasseur.

Emine Dzhaparova informed her counterpart about the reform of the National Commission of Ukraine for UNESCO, its priorities, as well as the vision of intensifying the cooperation between the respective national commissions of Ukraine and Canada.

"We are currently working on a strategy of the National Commission for UNESCO, which has already united not only the agencies that are part of the Commission, but also experts, scholars and representatives of civil society. Among our priorities is the integration of new dimensions that are successful for Ukraine – digitalization and equal opportunities. We will also continue working on such topics as the occupied territories and the protection of cultural heritage," the First Deputy Minister stressed.

In addition, Emine Dzhaparova informed her partner of the latest developments in the fields of ensuring the rights of indigenous peoples and gender equality in Ukraine.

The Chair of the Ukrainian National Commission for UNESCO spoke about the situation in the temporarily occupied Crimea, in particular about the actions of the Russian occupation administration aimed at destroying cultural heritage. She expressed gratitude for Canada’s support of Ukraine's efforts to keep the issues of monitoring the situation in the temporarily occupied Autonomous Republic of Crimea and the city of Sevastopol, where UNESCO’s competence is applicable, on the UNESCO agenda.

The Canadian side expressed solidarity with Ukraine in the fight against human rights violations in the temporarily occupied territories in Crimea and eastern Ukraine.

Liette Vasseur outlined the priorities of the Canadian National Commission, including indigenous issues, digitalization of education, artificial intelligence, open science, biodiversity, ocean science, inclusivity and gender equality.

The parties agreed to work together on strengthening the cooperation between the associated schools and departments of UNESCO, organizing online discussions on relevant issues of national commissions of both countries, developing national commissions strategies with the involvement of expert circles and the exchange of their experience.

The First Deputy Minister also informed about an international flashmob, initiated by the President of Ukraine and the National Commission of Ukraine for UNESCO on the occasion of the 75th anniversary of the Organization, as an alternative way to celebrate the anniversary in the conditions of the COVID-19 pandemic and invited the Canadian side to join it.