Turning the pages back...

July 10, 1977

An article published in The Weekly 29 years ago commented on the lack of international support for human rights in Ukraine. At that time, the USSR was continuing its policy of arbitrary arrest and detention, and the persecution of dissidents.

According to the article by Arthur Belendiuk of Ukrainian Media Service, there were two main reasons for this lack of support. First, that the working press of the Western world knew almost nothing about what was happening inside Ukraine. Second, that reporters and editors often felt that there was not enough popular interest in the Ukrainian movement to make it worthwhile to write articles about it.

The article continued by noting that politicians and other high-ranking officials read newspapers and watch television, and it is important that they and the American people do not get a one-sided view of what is happening in the USSR. According to the author, it is the responsibility of Ukrainians everywhere to coordinate efforts to educate Americans on the concerns of Ukraine.

The author suggested that although the Ukrainian community may not have the numbers of other ethnic minorities, we can still be heard by contacting newspapers, television stations and other media outlets to affect change. For example, for every call or letter that a media outlet receives to do a story on Ukrainian dissidents, editors assume there are a thousand others with similar requests, but who do not make contact with the media.

The Ukrainian community must work diligently to bring its issues to light and to recognize that the ability to effect change is as near as their local newspaper or television station, Mr. Belendiuk concluded.

Source: "Why Has Ukraine Been Left Out of the International Movement for Human Rights?" by Arthur Belendiuk, The Ukrainian Weekly, July 10, 1977.

Copyright © The Ukrainian Weekly, July 9, 2006, No. 28, Vol. LXXIV

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