Ministry of Culture Establishes Expert Council on Freedom of Worship and Activity of Religious Organizations

The Ministry of Culture established an Expert Council on Matters of Freedom of Worship and Activity of Religious Organizations with the status of a consultative and advisory body. So says Order 668 of the Ministry of Culture of 22.06.2012, reported the Institute for Religious Freedom (IRF).

According to an official report, the council was established to consider scholarly recommendations, conduct professional consultations and study problems connected with the realization of the state policy in the area of religion.

According to the regulations, the main objectives of the council are the following:

-          to ensure meaningful monitoring, analysis and evaluation of processes in the religious environment in Ukraine and abroad;

-          to conduct professional consultations and study problems connected with the realization of the state policy in the area of religion;

-          to study problems of ensuring of the freedom of worship and confession and activity of religious organizations in Ukraine.

First Deputy Minister of Culture, Yurii Bohutskyi was appointed the Head of the Expert Council on Matters of Freedom of Worship and Activity of Religious Organizations.

The council is composed of representatives of the Ministry of Culture of Ukraine, other bodies of executive power, public organizations and leading religious experts.