Ukraine’s International Obligations in the Field of Mother-Tongue-Medium Education of Minorities

Abstract

Abstract. On September 5, 2017, the Verkhovna Rada (Parliament) of Ukraine voted for the Ukrainian Law “On Education”. Around Article 7 of the Law, discussions broke out, which gradually turned into one of the most acute conflicts in both internal political life and the external relations of Ukraine. The conflict rose from an internal to an international level when Hungary blocked the organization of high-level political meetings between Ukraine and NATO. The present paper examines Ukraine’s obligations in the field of mother-tongue-medium education of minorities. Kyiv had assumed such obligations with the ratification of the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages and the Framework Convention for the Protection of National Minorities. Based on the official reports of the Advisory Committee on the Framework Convention for the Protection of National Minorities and the Committee of Experts of the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages of Council of Europe bodies from 2017, the paper also examines how Ukraine fulfils its international obligations in this area.