Despite the challenges caused by the full-scale war, Ukraine remains consistently committed to the principles of equality, inclusiveness, and non-discrimination in education. This was stated by Olha Herasymiuk, Chair of the National Council of Ukraine on Television and Radio Broadcasting, speaking on behalf of the Ukrainian government delegation at the plenary meeting of the 43rd session of the UNESCO General Conference held in Samarkand.
«Ukraine reaffirms its strong commitment to the principles enshrined in the Convention and Recommendation against Discrimination in Education. Our country shares UNESCO’s belief that education is not only a fundamental human right but also a powerful tool for strengthening peace, equality, and sustainable development,” emphasized Olha Herasymiuk during the panel discussion on summarizing Member States’ reports on the implementation of the 1960 Convention.
Among the priorities of our state in the education system is the protection of the rights of national minorities and indigenous peoples.
“Ukraine’s approach is aimed at ensuring a balance between the right of every citizen to master the state language and the right of persons belonging to national minorities to pursue education in their native language – in accordance with the Constitution of Ukraine and international standards.”
The Chair of the National Council drew the attention of the delegates to the large-scale consequences of Russian aggression for Ukraine’s education sector, which has suffered unprecedented losses: thousands of educational institutions have been damaged or destroyed, and millions of students and teachers have been forced to leave their homes. At the same time, according to her, Ukraine has demonstrated a high level of resilience and institutional adaptability.
“Systems of distance learning have been developed and strengthened, which made it possible to continue the educational process even under the most challenging conditions.”
Today, the fight against discrimination in education has a special meaning for Ukraine – it is, above all, the protection of the right to education for every child affected by the war, including internally displaced students and those living in temporarily occupied territories.
Olha Herasymiuk expressed her gratitude to UNESCO for its comprehensive support – through the Global Education Coalition, technical assistance, and monitoring of attacks on educational institutions – noting that “these efforts help Ukraine preserve the right to education as a cornerstone of peace, recovery, and social unity.”
Addressing the delegates, the Chair of the Ukrainian media regulator called on UNESCO Member States to deepen international cooperation in combating discrimination in education.
“Ukraine firmly believes that the Convention against Discrimination in Education remains as relevant today as it was more than sixty years ago. We urge all Member States to strengthen cooperation, share best practices, and invest in inclusive and equitable education systems that leave no one behind.”
Reminder: the 43rd session of the UNESCO General Conference is currently taking place in Samarkand (Uzbekistan). The Ukrainian delegation, which includes the Chair of the National Council, Olha Herasymiuk, is actively working to promote Ukraine’s interests. The Ukrainian delegation expresses its gratitude to the Permanent Mission of Ukraine to the UNESCO and the Embassy of Ukraine in the Republic of Uzbekistan for their assistance in organizing the participation of the Ukrainian delegation in the session, for actively defending national interests, and for supporting Ukraine’s initiatives on the international stage.
