On November 21-22, 2024, Kyiv hosted the Second International Conference, Сrimea Global: Understanding Ukraine through the South. This year’s event gathered experts, analysts, journalists, scholars, and opinion leaders from various countries across Africa, Asia, South, and Central America, including India, Brazil, Iraq, Sudan, Mexico, Kenya, Ghana, Guinea, and others. They convened to discuss contemporary challenges and opportunities for cooperation with Ukraine. This was a unique and large-scale event aimed at fostering an exchange of experiences and visions among countries, disseminating information about Ukraine—particularly about Crimea as an inseparable part of it—and promoting the Peace Formula. The conference was held under the initiative of the Mission of the President of Ukraine in the Autonomous Republic of Crimea/ Office of the Crimea Platform, with co-organizers including the Media Initiative for Human Rights, Human Rights Center ZMINA, PEN Ukraine, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine / MFA of Ukraine, and the Hennadii Udovenko Diplomatic Academy of Ukraine at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine. The event’s partners included the Center for Information Resilience, CrimeaSOS, the Eastern European Institute of Development, and others.

Despite security challenges, the event brought together more than 100 participants, including public figures, government officials, ambassadors, and representatives from countries in Africa, Asia, and South and Central America. Notably, the conference was attended by media representatives from 10 African countries. Participants learned about the current situation in Ukraine, the country’s fight for sovereignty and territorial integrity, and participated in discussions on ways to establish peace, restore justice, ensure global food security, address the situation in the Black Sea, and tackle human rights challenges in occupied territories. Special attention was given to Crimea during the conference. Crimea symbolizes Ukraine’s struggle against Russia’s colonial policies and is of particular importance in terms of food and energy security and overcoming colonialism.

The conference included not only 6 panel discussions but also a series of trips by international participants to various regions of Ukraine, side events, and special activities in collaboration with the Transatlantic Dialogue Center, the Center for Information Resilience, CrimeaSOS, the ZMINA Human Rights Center, the Eastern European Institute of Development, the Maksym Kryvtsov Foundation, and PEN Ukraine.

The First Vice Speaker of the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine, Oleksandr Korniienko, and Special Representative of Ukraine for the Middle East and Africa, Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine, Maksym Subkh, also participated in several events.

Also, at the Crimea Global 2024 event, separate exhibitions of the Qirim icun / For Crimea project were presented. These included paintings by Sadykh Adzhy-Selim, photo stories of soldiers from Crimea, sketches by Anton Logov, and an exhibition of photographs created by citizen journalists over various periods following the occupation of the Crimean Peninsula.

Conference participants could join the Letters to a Free Crimea initiative and write messages supporting Crimean political prisoners.

From November 18 to 20, international guests visited the following locations: the Office of the Crimea Platform, the Prosthetics, Orthotics, and Rehabilitation Center Bez Obmezhen in Kyiv; Irpin, Bucha, and Borodianka in the Kyiv region; the village of Yahidne in Chernihiv region, and Odesa. In Kyiv, at the Ukrainian PEN space, delegates met with families of Ukrainian civilians who Russia repressed. During their visit to the Chernihiv region, international experts visited the Chernihiv Regional Drama Theater, which is being restored after a missile attack in August 2023. They also met with the Deputy Head of the Chernihiv Regional Military Administration, Ivan Vashchenko, and the head of the Chernihiv City Military Administration, Dmytro Bryzhynskyi. In the second part of the visit, the delegates participated in a panel discussion titled “Motivation of Victims in the Justice Process: Managing Expectations and Healing from Trauma,” a special event organized by the Media Initiative for Human Rights and the Educational Human Rights House in Chernihiv.

In Odesa, a roundtable discussion was held about the situation in the region, Ukraine’s successes in the Black Sea, and the restoration of the grain corridor. Foreign guests also had an informative city tour and saw firsthand the realities of life in a Ukrainian city that suffers from almost daily Russian attacks.

The first day of the official conference program began on November 21 with a roundtable titled “Blurred Borders: Deportation and the Struggle for the Right to Identity in Crimea.” The discussion focused on the deportation of Ukrainian children by Russia, the erasure of national identity in children under occupation, and the role of temporarily occupied Crimea as a platform where Russia tested militarization and indoctrination mechanisms. The speakers at this discussion were Ukrainian Parliamentary Commissioner for Human Rights, Dmytro Lubinets; Daria Kasyanova, Chairperson of the Board of the Ukrainian Network for the Rights of the Child; Aliona Luniova, Director of Advocacy at the Human Rights Center  ZMINA; Iryna Tuliakova, Head of the Coordination Center for the Development of Family Upbringing and Child Care; and Valeriia Sydorova, a child who was returned after forced relocation to occupied Crimea.

Later, the official opening of the conference took place, during which the following individuals delivered speeches: Tamila Tasheva, the Permanent Representative of the President of Ukraine in the Autonomous Republic of Crimea; Maksym Subkh, Special Representative of Ukraine on the Middle East and Africa; Nariman Dzhelyal, the First Deputy Chairman of the Mejlis of the Crimean Tatar People; Olga Reshetylova, Head of the NGO “Media Initiative for Human Rights”; and Anurag Krishna, a student at Vinnytsia National Medical University named after M.I. Pirogov. Ukrainian journalist and host Vadym Karpiak moderated the opening ceremony.

“Crimea is not merely a point on the map. It is a unique place from which dialogue can be built with countries in Asia, Africa, and Latin America,” emphasized Tamila Tasheva, urging the international community to support Ukraine in its fight for freedom, dignity, and the restoration of territorial integrity.

During the first panel discussion, titled “Becoming a Sustainable Peace Partner: How Can Non-Western Countries Contribute to Ending Russian Aggression Against Ukraine?” the following speakers participated: Uriã Fancelli, an international politics analyst and author, Political Commentator for CNN Portugal, originally from Brazil; Brian Oruta, Senior Digital Reporter for The Star Newspaper, in Kenya; Dr. Swasti Rao, Fellow at the Europe and Eurasia Centre, Manohar Parrikar, a representative of the Institute for Defense Studies and Analyses in India; Dr. Dinna Prapto Raharja, Executive Director of Synergy Policies in Indonesia; Dariia Zarivna, Advisor to the Head of the Office of the President of Ukraine; and Andrii Kononenko, Deputy Secretary of the National Security and Defense Council of Ukraine. The discussion was moderated by Olha Rudenko, Chief Editor of the Kyiv Independent Media Outlet.

In her remarks, Daria Zarivna, Advisor to the Head of the Office of the President of Ukraine, stated:

“Russia’s invasion of Ukraine is not a conflict between Russia and the West. It is not a proxy war. For Russia, this is a colonial war. For us, it is a struggle for independence and survival. At the same time, its impact significantly transcends our borders: nuclear safety, food security, global logistics, and ecological disaster. If even one attempt at recolonization succeeds, it will jeopardize the sovereignty of dozens of states worldwide.”

The second panel discussion, titled “Overcoming the Crisis: The Roles of Asian, African, and Latin American Countries in Restoring the Efficiency of International Organizations and Their Humanitarian Mission,” included the participation of Rubén Beltrán, lawyer, diplomat, former Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs of Mexico, and Ambassador of Mexico to Russia and Chile; Uma Shankar Singh, Chief Editor for Political and International Affairs at India’s NDTV; Marina Slhessarenko Barreto, researcher in the Law and Democracy cluster at the Brazilian Center for Analysis and Planning (CEBRAP) and political analyst from Brazil; and Dmytro Usov, Secretary of the Ukrainian Coordination Headquarters on Prisoner of War Affairs. The discussion was moderated by Olha Reshetylova, Head of the Media Initiative for Human Rights.

Dmytro Usov, Secretary of the Coordination Headquarters for Prisoner of War Affairs, noted that Ukraine is actively working to address the humanitarian crisis caused by Russia’s aggression.

“Efforts include both regulatory measures and practical actions aimed at protecting citizens’ rights. For example, in March 2022, the Coordination Headquarters was established to deal with the issues of returning prisoners of war and civilians,” stated Dmytro Usov.

On November 21, a side event titled “Resilient Girls from Asia and Africa: Why They Decided to Stay and Study in Ukraine” took place. The event was organized in cooperation with the Eastern European Development Institute as part of “Ukraine and South Asia: Open Dialogues.” The panel discussion featured students from Vinnytsia National Medical University: Somia Hazel Topno, Anastasiia Dyube, Clemensia Moyo, and Serena Omoko. The event was moderated by Mridula Ghosh, Associate Professor at the National University Kyiv-Mohyla Academy and Chair of the Eastern European Development Institute. During the event, the participants shared their experiences and motivations for staying in Ukraine during the war.

At the end of the first day of Crimea Global, a special event titled “Executed Culture” took place at the Kyiv Sens bookstore, dedicated to Ukrainian artists and cultural figures who died as a result of Russia’s war against Ukraine.

The second day of the conference began with the third panel discussion, titled “Challenges for Indigenous Peoples Worldwide: Can We Build Solidarity and Achieve Justice?” Participants in the discussion included Refat Chubarov, Chairman of the Mejlis of the Crimean Tatar People; Natia Navruzov, Executive Director of “Yazda,” lawyer and representative of the Yazidi people from Iraq; Marina Slhessarenko Barreto, researcher in the Law and Democracy cluster at CEBRAP, political analyst; Mohammed Hassan, Executive Director of the Darfur Network for Human Rights (DNHR) from Sudan; and Cristine Takuá, representative of the Maxakali people and co-founder of the Maraca Institute, which advocates for the interests of Indigenous Peoples in Brazil. The event was moderated by Suleiman Mamutov, a member of the UN Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues.

“The main challenge for the Crimean Tatar people is the occupation of their land by the Russian enemy, who has been destroying our people for decades,” emphasized Refat Chubarov.

The fourth panel discussion, titled “Developing Economic Ties Between Ukraine and Non-Western Countries,” featured contributions from Dr. Fernanda Magnotta, Coordinator of the International Relations Program at FAAP, Senior Fellow at CEBRI, Global Fellow at the Wilson Center, Analyst for CNN Brazil, originating from Brazil; Nagender Parashar, General Director of Parashar Industries from India, who has lived in Ukraine for 10 years; Amb. Norton Rapesta, Brazilian Ambassador to Ukraine from 2021 to 2024; and Lev-Oleksandr Bondarenko, Deputy Director for Government Affairs at MHP Global. The opening speech was delivered by Lyudmyla Shemelynets,  Deputy Minister of Agrarian Policy and Food of Ukraine. The discussion was moderated by Anna Liubyma, Director for International Cooperation at the Ukrainian Chamber of Commerce and Industry.

Lyudmyla Shemelynets emphasized that the agricultural sector is one of the driving forces of the Ukrainian economy:

 “Our main goal is to ensure internal and external food security, as well as to guarantee the sustainable development of the agricultural sector.”

Before the fifth panel discussion, titled “Russian Propaganda Narratives in Different Parts of the World: How It Affects Perception of Ukraine and in Particular Crimea,” Oleksandr Korniienko, the First Vice Speaker of the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine, delivered a speech. He emphasized:

“It is crucial for us to establish and strengthen ties, particularly at the interparliamentary level, with countries from the non-Western world. We have launched a new strategy and are determined to continue it.”

The panel discussion itself included Alim Aliev, Deputy Director of the Ukrainian Institute; Uriã Fancelli, International Political Analyst and Author, Political Commentator for CNN Portugal, Brazil; Hannia Novell, a Mexican journalist with outlets including El Tepeyac, Claustro de Sor Juana, and Del Valle de México, and a documentary producer; Brian Oruta, Senior Digital Reporter for The Star newspaper, Kenya; Dr. Swasti Rao, Fellow at the Europe and Eurasia Centre, Manohar Parrikar Institute for Defense Studies and Analyses, India; Thierno Amadou Camara, Publishing Director of Guinée114 from Guinea and author of a book on Russia’s war against Ukraine; and Raymond Acquah, Research Director at Multimedia Group Limited, Ghana. The discussion was moderated by Tetiana Pechonchyk, Chair of the Board at the ZMINA Human Rights Center.

Parallel to the main program, a special event titled “The Children of War: Depiction of the Wrecked Lives of Ukrainian Minors Through the Lens of Documentary Journalism” was organized by the Human Rights Center ZMINA. Participants watched the documentary film Children of War (original title: Los Niños de la Guerra) by Mexican journalist Hannia Novell, followed by a discussion with the film’s author, as well as Olesia Bida—a journalist from The Kyiv Independent who worked on the investigative documentary about the kidnapping of Ukrainian children by Russia, titled “Uprooted,” and Aliona Savchuk—a journalist who documented the lives of families of political prisoners in occupied Crimea. Due to this, the occupying authorities prohibited her from visiting Crimea. The event was moderated by Tetiana Zhukova, International Advocacy Manager at the ZMINA Human Rights Center.

The participants discussed the importance of conveying information to the international community through visual arts and the dangers of depicting life under occupation.

On the same day, there was a side event titled “Building Trust and Strengthening Dialogue Between Ukraine and Brazil: Lessons from the Past and Perspectives for the Future,” organized by the Transatlantic Dialogue Center. The discussion included international political analyst, author, and CNN Portugal political commentator Uriã Fancelli; coordinator of the FAAP International Relations Program, senior researcher at CEBRI, global fellow at the Wilson Center, and CNN Brazil analyst Fernanda Magnotta; researcher in the Law and Democracy Cluster of the Brazilian Center for Analysis and Planning (CEBRAP) and political analyst Marina Slhessarenko Barreto; and Counselor of the Embassy of Ukraine in Brazil Andrii Borodenkov. The discussion was moderated by political scientist Diana Maslianchuk from the Center for Transatlantic Dialogue Center.

Additionally, a roundtable discussion Environmental Impact of the Russian Aggression: From 2014 to 2024 was held as part of the conference organized by the Center for Information Resilience and the public organization “CrimeaSOS.” The discussion involved Tom Jarvis, Senior OSINT Analyst and Training Program Lead at the Center for Information Resilience; Yevhenii Yaroshenko, Analyst at CrimeaSOS; and Bohdan Kuchenko, expert from the Ecoaction NGO. The discussion was moderated by Yuliia Chykolba, Director of the Center for Information Resilience in Ukraine.

The sixth panel focused on the Soviet legacy in countries of Asia, Africa, and Latin America, which requires decolonization and rethinking. The participants of the discussion on the topic “Soviet Legacy in African, Asian, and Latin American Countries: Should Ukraine Claim Its Owenership?” included: Oleh Bielokolos, Director of the Center for National Resilience Studies, political expert, diplomat, and Charge d’Affaires of Ukraine in Kenya (2008–2010); Oleksii Haran, Professor of Political Science at the National University of Kyiv-Mohyla Academy, Scientific Director of the “Democratic Initiatives” Foundation; Mridula Ghosh, Associate Professor at the National University of Kyiv-Mohyla Academy, Chair of the Board of the Eastern European Institute of Development; Yevhen Mykytenko, Advisor to the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine, former Ambassador of Ukraine to Saudi Arabia, Jordan, Syria, the UAE, Sudan, Qatar, and Egypt; Dzyvinka Kachur, Vice President of the World Congress of Ukrainians in Africa, Co-founder of the “Ukrainian Association of South Africa.” The discussion panel was moderated by the Head of the Crimea Platform Department, Mariia Tomak.

The Second International Conference Crimea Global: Understanding Ukraine through the South concluded with a closing ceremony. Key organizers and participants delivered closing remarks, summarizing the two intense days of discussions and thanking all the guests for their attention and support for Ukraine during this challenging time.

The Permanent Representative of the President of Ukraine, Tamila Tasheva, emphasized the importance of solidarity in a time when Ukraine has been living under the conditions of a full-scale war for almost three years and has been under Russian aggression for the tenth year:

“I sincerely thank everyone who has come to Ukraine and supports us in these difficult days. We are going through hard times: every day in Ukraine, infrastructure is destroyed, and many civilians are casualties. Yet, despite all of this, we held this important and eventful gathering.”

The Ambassador-at-Large of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine, Rostyslav Tronenko, pointed out the global dimension of the conference and its title:

 “We hope that the solidarity and empathy you demonstrated today will support our defenders, Crimean Tatars, Indigenous Peoples, and minorities who are fighting for Ukraine and Crimea.”

We thank all the participants of the conference for their attention to the event! Crimea is Ukraine!