Day of Interethnic Harmony and Cultural Diversity

On May 21, 2025, Ukraine celebrated the Day of Interethnic Harmony and Cultural Diversity for the first time at the state level — an important holiday that affirms the value of each national community and indigenous people as an integral part of Ukrainian identity.
Olena Arabadzhy, head of the NGO “Union of Karaites of Ukraine,” vice-rector of the Bohdan Khmelnytsky National University of Education, and ambassador of the Association of Ambassadors of Ukraine, took an active part in the main events that took place in Kyiv.
At the All-Ukrainian Forum of National Minorities and Indigenous Peoples, which brought together more than 300 participants, she joined in the creation of the Garden of Interethnic Harmony in the Hryshko Botanical Garden — a symbol of the unity of cultures that form modern Ukraine.
On May 22, she also took part in a meeting with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, where she emphasized the importance of forming civic identity in wartime and strengthening dialogue between the state and national communities.
At the UNIDAY Fest-2025 festival on May 24, Olena Arabadzhy received thanks from the Ombudsman of Ukraine for her significant contribution to the protection of the rights of national minorities. The Union of Karaites of Ukraine presented the cultural heritage of the Karaite people, joining the great mosaic of national cultures.
It is women leaders who create space for dialogue, trust, and joint action. As a representative of an association that brings together influential women leaders from various fields, Ms. Arabadzhy is an important link in the community of women leaders of national minority NGOs. Her participation attests to the growing role of women in shaping cultural dialogue policy, protecting the rights of communities, and developing an inclusive society.