A/HRC/28/64/Add.1 language and education and expressed their perception that the Euromaidan movement and pro-European Government would diminish the status of the Russian language and culture, reinforced by attempts to abolish the 2012 language law. Some ethnic Russians viewed the territory and people of Ukraine as historically and culturally Russian and strongly rejected the label “minority” being applied to them. 34. A population census is overdue and is planned for 2016. In the absence of accurate disaggregated data that reveal the ethnic, linguistic or religious composition of the population, there is often dangerous speculation and manipulation relating to the size of certain groups. An early and well-conducted census will provide reliable data on the ethnic and linguistic diversity of Ukraine, help to identify problems facing particular population groups, and enable the Government to understand and respond to the needs of different minorities. VI. Language and cultural rights of minorities 35. Consultations revealed that the use of minority languages was highly important and emotive for many communities and an essential aspect of individual and community identity. National minorities clearly expressed their desire to maintain and protect their language rights and their ability to use their languages freely in private and public without discrimination. Most communities broadly expressed satisfaction that their children had the opportunity to learn and, in many cases, be taught in their mother-tongue language. Minority schools have been established and can function freely according to national law. 36. Calls to upgrade the status of Russian as a second official State language have been the subject of fierce disagreement between pro-Russians and those who advocate the primacy of Ukrainian. The Government considers that widespread knowledge and use of Ukrainian as the State language are important to Ukrainian national identity and unity and allow economic, geographical and social mobility while ensuring that those belonging to any ethnic or linguistic minority can participate fully in all aspects of society, including political life. Minority representatives frequently mentioned that the use of minority languages was a significant and valued feature of Ukrainian society and was not incompatible with the teaching and use of Ukrainian. 37. Reliable data concerning the number of users of minority languages and their geographic distribution are important to ensure that they comply fully with international standards for protection of the linguistic rights of minorities. The 2001 census revealed that, while 67.5 per cent described their native language as Ukrainian, 29.6 per cent recorded their native language as Russian.18 Russian is widely spoken in the south, the east and the Autonomous Republic of Crimea, particularly the regions of Crimea (77.0 per cent), Donetsk (74.9 per cent), Luhansk (68.8 per cent), Zaporizhia (48.2 per cent) and Kharkiv (44.3 per cent), while in some other regions there is reportedly extensive bilingualism. 38. The passing of Law 5029–VI on the Principles of the State Language Policy in 2012 provided relatively extensive language rights and a low threshold of 10 per cent for recognition of regional language status, benefiting several minority language communities. However, it also raised concerns, including with regard to the promotion of the Ukrainian language, despite its status as the sole State language. The Law was criticized, including by the European Commission for Democracy through Law (Venice Commission), as being overly focused on the promotion of the status of the Russian language, potentially at the 18 Available from http://2001.ukrcensus.gov.ua/d/mono_eng.pdf. 11