President approves strategy for protection of human rights, including to religious freedom
The national strategy for human rights aims torally society around the awareness of values of human rights and freedoms, which should be protected on the basis of equality and without discrimination.
The document was approved by Presidential Decree № 501/2015on August 25, 2015, the Institute of Religious Freedom reports.
In addition to the various aspects of human rights,the National Strategy briefly touches on issues of religious freedom. In particular, to ensure the right to freedom of peaceful assembly and freedom of association, it provides “improvement of the procedure of state registration of religious organizations and coordination of peaceful assemblies of a religious nature.”
As reported by the IRS, the effective provisions of the fifth paragraph of Article 21 of the Law of Ukraine “On freedom of conscience and religious organizations”currently contradict to Article 39 of the Constitution of Ukraine and discriminate against believers and religious organizations as they provide for permissive procedure and a 10-day termto notify aboutorganizing a peaceful religious event.
In addition, in order to create an effective system of prevention and combating discrimination, theNational Strategy seeks to “ensure effective investigation of crimes committed on the grounds of racial, national, religious and other intolerance, and bringing those responsible to justice.”
However, other problems in the area of religious freedom and religious organizations have not been covered by the National Strategy for human rights.
Meanwhile, it is reported that the Cabinet of Ministers of Ukraine is capable of expanding the practical aspects of this document during the development of the Action Plan to implement the National Strategy for the period until 2020. According to the presidential decree, the government was givena period of three months and mandatory involvement of the public was provided.
Decree of the President of Ukraine
On approval of the National strategy for human rights
In order to improve activities for strengthening and ensuring the rights and freedoms of man and citizen in Ukraine, according to Article 102 of the Constitution of Ukraine I hereby decree as follows:
- Thenational strategy for human rights shall be approved (as attached).
- The Cabinet of Ministers of Ukraine shall:
1) developand approve in three months theAction Plan for the period until 2020 (hereinafter –the Action Plan)to implement the National Strategy for human rights with the involvement of representatives of state agencies, local governments, civil society, leading national scientists and international experts
2) ensure every year:
- preparation and publication of a report by November 1 on implementation of the Action Plan for the current year;
- public discussion of the report on the Action Plan for the current year on December 10, involving the representatives of state agencies, local governments, civil society, international organizations and revision thereof based on the results of such discussions;
3) make provisions for the funds necessary to finance the implementation of the Action Planwhen drafting laws on the State Budget of Ukraine for the current year.
President of Ukraine Petro Poroshenko
August 25, 2015
No.501/2015
