I pointed out that in at least two instances the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights simply failed to respond to letters and memoranda on human rights in the Russian Federation submitted by the Ukrainian World Congress. The Assistant Secretary encouraged me to continue monitoring and submitting evidence even when there appears to be no response or reaction.
Evidently, something is amiss in the Russian Federation.
He pointed out that during the High Commissioner’s last visit to the Russia Federation she did raise human rights’ issues. I requested a transcript of the High Commissioner’s remarks. Some three weeks have elapsed. I can wait.
In the meantime, the Ukrainian World Congress has submitted a statement to an upcoming review conference on education scheduled in Geneva this summer. The statement reads:
“Effective universal primary education for all children means that the individual physical, psychological, linguistic, and emotional needs of children must be met through a full course of primary schooling. Simply teaching the 3 Rs (reading, ‘riting, ‘rithmetic) is no longer an effective strategy in the 21stcentury.
A major challenge in developing including post Soviet countries is meeting the educational requirements of children with special needs (physical, psychological, linguistic and emotional). In a society, which continues to struggle under the burden ofintolerance, individuals, who do not fit the one-size-fits-all model are viewed as an embarrassment and a burden.
Post Soviet countries (e.g. Ukraine) have an express need to raise educator, public and policy-maker awareness that children with physical, psychological, linguistic and emotional challenges need:
-to socialize with their peers in a school setting (and not be marginalized through at-home instruction);
-a program that places focus on enhancing their potential (and not one that restricts itself to labeling their “defect” resulting in learned-helplessness);
-programs that will educate and nurture child-advocacy professionals (and not individuals restricted to implementing and monitoring state policy with a disregard for individual uniqueness).
Evidence in countries of the developed world has shown that making schools inclusive and providing special needs’ children with a child-focused education, results in gains for all children and, ultimately, society-at-large.
The United Nations bodies should raise awareness of this need in post Soviet and developing countries and coordinate financial assistance to meet it.
Another significant issue in the educational field is addressing the needs of ethnic minorities. Article 27 of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights provides: ‘In those States in which ethnic, religious or linguistic minorities exist, persons belonging to such minorities shall not be denied the right, in community with the other members of their group, to enjoy their own culture, to profess and practice their own religion, or to use their own language.’
A case on point is the Ukrainian ethnic minority which is the largest inthe Russian Federation. There isn’t a single Ukrainian language school in the Russian Federation. By comparison, the Russian ethnic minority is the largest in Ukraine. There are some three thousand schools in Ukraine where the Russian language is either offered or serves as the main language of instruction.
Evidently, something is amiss in the Russian Federation. The aforesaid incongruity does not serve the Russian state nor the Ukrainian ethnic minority therein as the latter feels slighted and thus sees itself outside the mainstream of the Russian state. This lack of attention to ethnic minorities is palpable in other spheres in the Russian Federation, religion, etc.
The United Nations should pay particular attention to thedevelopment of linguistic and religious rights of ethnic minorities not only in compliance with the Universal Declaration on Human Rights and the aforesaid Covenant, but with the aim of sustaining the democratic development of its member-states. Cultural development in education is basic to fostering a more loyal and participatory citizenry.”
Hope springs eternal!
Askold S. Lozynskyj is the Ukrainian World Congress’ main representative to the United Nations. He can be reached at [email protected].
