Erasing Ukrainian Identity and Culture
Please join the Tom Lantos Human Rights Commission for a hearing on the Russian Federation’s campaign to erase Ukrainian culture and identity in the context of its ongoing war of aggression against Ukraine.
Since Russia invaded Ukraine in February 2022, objects and properties with cultural, historical and religious significance for the Ukrainian people – including monuments, theatres, places of worship, cemeteries and universities -- have been destroyed in military attacks. As of July 2024, the Ukrainian government had identified more than 2,000 objects of cultural infrastructure that had been damaged or destroyed by the war. Libraries and other repositories of materials in the Ukrainian language, historical archives and museums have also been destroyed. UN experts have observed “a widespread narrative of demonisation and denigration of Ukrainian culture and identity promoted by Russian officials” and eliminationist rhetoric has been documented. In parts of Ukraine occupied by Russia, there are efforts to replace local culture, history and language with Russian language and Russian and Soviet history and culture. Artists, journalists and academics have been at particular risk since the invasion.
The Universal Declaration of Human Rights recognizes that cultural rights are indispensable to human dignity and self-determination. The intentional destruction of cultural heritage is known to be detrimental to the enjoyment of human rights, including cultural rights, and is a war crime under the Rome Statute.
Witnesses will describe the ongoing Russian campaign to erase Ukrainian culture and identity, review applicable human rights law, and offer recommendations for Congress.
The hearing will be hybrid. Members of Congress will participate in person. Witnesses may participate in person or remotely via Cisco WebEx. The public and the media may attend in person or view the hearing by live webcast on the Commission website. The hearing will also be available for viewing on Channel 54 of the House Digital Channel service. For any questions, please contact Kimberly Stanton (for Co-Chair McGovern) or Mark Milosch (for Co-Chair Smith).
Hosted by:
| James P. McGovern Member of Congress Co-Chair, TLHRC |
Chris Smith Member of Congress Co-Chair, TLHRC |
Opening Remarks
- James P. McGovern, Co-Chair, TLHRC
Written remarks - Steve Cohen, Member, TLHRC
Witnesses
Panel I
- Hadar Harris, Managing Director, Washington, PEN America
Written testimony - Dora Chomiak, Chief Executive Officer, Razom for Ukraine
Written testimony - Dr. Jade McGlynn, Research Fellow, King’s College, London
Written testimony - Karima Bennoune, Lewis M. Simes Professor of Law, University of Michigan Law School
Written testimony - Brian I. Daniels, Ph.D., Director of Research and Programs, Penn Cultural Heritage Center, Penn Museum
Witness testimony
Submitted for the Record
- Rep. Ilhan Omar, Member of the TLHRC Executive Committee, Statement Submitted for the Record
- PEN America, "Ukrainian Culture Under Attack," December 2, 2022