OFFICE
OF PRESIDENT
EXPLAINS SPECIFICS OF BILL TO GRANT STATE STATUS TO CERTAIN
RELIGIOUS HOLIDAYS
The
draft law
concerning granting state status to certain religious holidays
will introduce a
legislative norm according to which an employer is advised to
give a day off to
an employee who is celebrating one of these holidays in
accordance with his
affiliation to one or another religious confession. This was
stated by an
assistant to the head of the office of the president of Ukraine,
Igor Zhovkva.
"It is
proposed
to grant state status to such religious holidays as
Ramadan-Bayram,
Kurban-Bayram, Passover, Rosh Hashanah, Hanukah, and Easter of
Christians of
the western rite. According to the bill, an employer is advised
to give a day
off to an employee who is celebrating one of these holidays in
accordance with
his affiliation with one or another religious confession" Igor
Zhovkva
said.
The
assistant to the
head of the office of the president said that such an approach
will permit
assuring the observance of traditions of celebration and will
demonstrate
Ukraine's commitment to the principles of equality, toleration,
and mutual
respect. In addition, representatives of religious communities
will be able to
exercise their right to free religious confession without
violating their
time-honored traditions.
"According
to
the constitution, Ukraine is a democratic and law-based state
and it guarantees
respect for basic human rights. One of these is the right to the
freedom of
worldview and religious confession. Article 35 of the Ukrainian
constitution
emphasizes that this right includes the freedom to profess any
religion or to
profess none, to perform without hindrance individually or
collectively
religious worship and rituals, and to conduct religious
activity," Igor
Zhovkva explained.
He noted
that Ukraine
has chosen European integration as the chief thrust of its
foreign policy.
"In the
countries of the European Union there exist profound traditions
of respect for
religion and religious confessions. Their rights are enshrined
in corresponding
legislative acts and society respects each person, regardless of
his religious
convictions. A great number of religious communities are active
in Ukraine,
professing the philosophy of various religions of the world.
However decades of
the dominance of the ideology of state atheism have distorted
people's attitude
toward certain religious movements," the assistant to the head
of the
office of president emphasized.
Igor
Zhovkva noted
that this is why the draft law granting state status to certain
religious
holidays has acquired relevance. "The philosophy of this
document is the
construction in Ukraine of a multi-confessional, tolerant
society of openness.
After all, it is such principles that are embodied in developed
democratic
countries," he said. (tr. by PDS, posted 1 August 2020)
Background article:
Ukrainian
president shows ecumenical spirit
July 30, 2020
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