A draft law proposing amendments to the "Law on National Minorities of Ukraine" in accordance with the conclusions of the European Commission for Democracy through Law (Venice Commission) has been registered in the Verkhovna Rada.
The draft law, numbered 9610, aims to bring the law "On National Minorities" in line with the principles of an inclusive approach and the relevant Framework Convention for the Protection of National Minorities of 1995.
The proposed changes include state guarantees for the free provision of textbooks (including electronic ones) to recipients of full general secondary education belonging to national minorities.
The changes also provide for the use of languages of national minorities in advertising, public, cultural, artistic, entertainment, and performance events, as well as in the provision of emergency assistance and support and protection for victims of domestic violence and care in nursing homes for elderly citizens.
The draft law specifies criteria for developing a methodology for using the languages of national minorities in populated areas where individuals belonging to national minorities traditionally reside or constitute a significant part of the population.
The draft law also provides definitions for terms such as "specialized bookstores established to implement the rights of national minorities (communities)" and "accompaniment (conferance)."
As stated in the explanatory note to the draft law, the legislative changes take into account the objective circumstances faced by Ukraine in connection with the armed aggression of the Russian Federation.
Among the authors of the draft law are the First Deputy Chairman of the Verkhovna Rada, Oleksandr Korniienko, Mykyta Poturaiev (Servant of the People faction), and Akhtem Chyigoz (European Solidarity faction).
It should be noted that on June 12, 2023, the European Commission for Democracy through Law published its conclusions on the "Law on National Minorities (Communities) of Ukraine" dated December 13, 2022. The Venice Commission recommended aligning certain provisions of the law with the provisions of the European Convention on Human Rights of 1950, the Framework Convention for the Protection of National Minorities of 1995, and the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages of 1992.
