UWC delegation addresses vital Italian parliament committee

ROME – A Ukrainian World Congress (UWC) delegation in Italy on July 15 took part in a pivotal session of the Foreign Affairs and European Affairs Committee of the Italian Chamber of Deputies, a key body that shapes Italy’s foreign policy and its stance within the European Union.

The delegation, composed of UWC Executive Director Roman Zyla, leader of the Christian Association of Ukrainians in Italy Oles Horodetskyy, Vice President of the World Federation of Ukrainian Women Organizations Oksana Kolomiets, and UWC Community Relations Manager Yevgeniya Petrova, addressed urgent challenges facing Ukrainians both in Italy and abroad.

The key issues that were raised included countering Russian propaganda and blocking performances by artists who openly support Russia’s war against Ukraine, as well as countering misleading Russian narratives present in Italian school textbooks regarding Ukraine.

The delegation also addressed the need to protect Ukrainian children who fled the war and sought refuge in Italy and called attention to legal uncertainties surrounding Ukrainians who hold “special protection” status. 

The delegates also expressed serious concern over systemic errors in Italy’s registration system (“anagrafe”), where Ukrainians born before 1991 are incorrectly recorded as having been born in Russia.

Further, the delegation stressed the vital importance of supporting the instruction of the Ukrainian language and cultural education within diaspora schools and churches to preserve national identity and encourage their eventual return to Ukraine after the Russo-Ukrainian war.

The UWC’s participation allowed the Ukrainian community’s voice to be heard at the highest levels of Italian policymaking, and drew focused attention to pressing issues while advancing concrete support measures for Ukraine.

The UWC expressed gratitude to the Italian Chamber of Deputies for its openness and continued solidarity with Ukraine.

This engagement follows the UWC delegation’s recent representation of Ukraine at the Ukraine Recovery Conference in Rome that underscored ongoing international efforts to support Ukraine’s resilience and rebuilding.