PARLIAMENTARY COALITION WANTS TO IMPROVE LEGISLATION ON RELIGION
Institute of Religious Liberty, 5 June 2015
The Supreme Soviet of Ukraine approved a plan of the legislative support of reforms in Ukraine, which contains a number of initiatives in the sphere of freedom of conscience and religious confession.
At a plenary session on 4 June 2015, 256 deputies of a parliamentary coalition and several others voted for a draft of Resolution No. 2986.
In contrast to the Coalition Agreement, part VII of the plan "National dialogue. Humanitarian policy" contains a separate section devoted to policy in the sphere of culture, religion, and spirituality.
Among the reforms in this sphere, the parliamentary majority plans to prepare and adopt the following draft laws:
The concept of state-confessional relations: IV quarter, 2015-2016;
On introducing amendments into the Ukrainian law "On freedom of conscience and religious organizations" (relative to ensuring the right to peaceful assembly and clarifying the list of regulatory agencies)" II quarter, 2015-2016;
On introducing amendments into several Ukrainian laws (relative to introducing the institution of military clergy (chaplaincy) into the armed forces of Ukraine, law enforcement agencies, and other military formations): IV quarter 2015-2016;
On introducing amendments into the Ukrainian law "On protection of public morals" (relative to strengthening social control): III quarter 2015-2016.
In addition, in the sphere of the development of information society and media it is proposed to adopt the draft of the law "On introducing amendments into several legislative acts of Ukraine relative to the elimination of forbidden topics and punishment for expression" (while observing a balance in questions of intolerance, extremism, and national, racial, or religious hate): IV quarter 2015-2016.
It should be noted that some of the legislative initiatives mentioned in the plan already were adopted by the Ukrainian parliament recently.
In particular, in the sphere of reform of education and science, the Verkhovna Rada adopted bill No. 1447 about the right of religious organizations to establish private educational institutions of the state curriculum, aimed at the guarantee of the right of citizens to freedom of worldview and religious confession while receiving education.
Also the deputies have already adopted bill No.1154 relative to pastoral care in institutions of pre-trial confinement of detainees and of the prison system which enlarged the possibility for meeting the religious needs of detainees and convicts and their access to communication with priests. (tr. by PDS, posted 5 June 2015)
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