Ferenc Rákóczi II. Transcarpathian Hungarian University
Madame Chair, distinguished delegates, esteemed members of the Forum. We want to thank you for
the opportunity to present the situation of the Hungarian community of Transcarpathia. We wish to
underline that we, the Transcarpathian Hungarians, living in Ukraine, continue to live peacefully in our
homeland and we deeply value the preservation of this peace. At the same time, the ongoing war
places a heavy burden of all citizens of Ukraine, and we also hope for its earliest possible end so that
we may once again live in a stable and predictable environment. We wish to note that the
comprehensive realization of minority rights for Hungarians in Ukraine remains an open question. For
the preservation of our identity, we consider the free use of our mother tongue and access to mother
tongue education indispensable, and we consistently stand for these rights. In practice, however,
opportunities to experience them remain limited, even in regions where national minorities have
traditionally lived in compact communities. We welcome the steps Ukraine has taken within the
framework of its European accession process to improve legislation affecting minority rights. We
regard these as positive developments, yet the current legal framework does not fully restore the
broader guarantees that existed prior to 2017. We, the Hungarians Transcarpathia, remain committed
to the peace, stability, and development of Ukraine, and we stand ready for a constructive dialogue
to ensure our rights are fully in line with European standards. Thank you for your attention.