In connection with the ongoing debate over Draft Law No. 8371 banning the UOC-MP, the State Service of Ukraine for Ethnic Policy and Freedom of Conscience (DESS) issued a statement on July 23 on the importance of its adoption.
In particular, the statement of the DESS reads:
"The DESS took an active part in the development of a government bill that makes it impossible for religious organizations affiliated with centers of influence in the country that has committed aggression against Ukraine to operate in Ukraine. This draft law offers a clear and comprehensive procedure for eliminating the destructive hostile influence of the subversive centers of the aggressor country on the religious life of Ukraine. At the same time, the DESS relied on the best international experience, on European standards in the field of protecting religious freedom and preventing its abuse to the detriment of human rights, as well as on the work of Ukrainian experts who have been attentive to the danger posed to Ukraine by the activities the Russian Church conducted for decades; experts who fought against its destructive influence long before many of the modern "whistleblowers" brought it up."
The DESS emphasizes that this bill, which aroused fierce opposition from Ukraine's enemies, received support from the overwhelming majority of churches and religious organizations in Ukraine. Its provisions were successfully defended at governmental and non-governmental international meetings and in the media, and the bill itself was voted by the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine in the first reading on October 19, 2023.
According to the DESS, more than 1200 amendments were submitted to Draft Law No. 8371 for the second reading. Along with constructive proposals, there was a large number of legislative spam, outright nonsense, and constructions distorting the original intent of the draft law.
The State Service of Ukraine for Ethnic Policy and Freedom of Conscience emphasized that it had consistently cooperated with the Committee on Humanitarian and Information Policy of the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine to improve the content of the draft law for the second reading.
"In our cooperation, the vast majority of amendments weakening and devaluing the bill, filling it with empty rattling, depriving it of legal certainty, and undermining the relations between the Ukrainian state and Ukrainian churches, were rejected", the statement reads.
The DESS is convinced that the law should make it impossible for religious organizations associated with any center in the aggressor country (not only with the Russian Church) to operate in Ukraine.
The State Service of Ukraine for Ethnic Policy and Freedom of Conscience also proposes a number of purely technical and legal provisions important for the implementation of the future law.
The DESS emphasizes that their consideration will make the law a reliable tool for preventing the abuse of religious feelings to the detriment of public safety, human rights and freedoms.
"We believe in the common sense and will of the Ukrainian Parliament to take a decisive and necessary step to clear the religious space of Ukraine from hostile influence, to harmonize church-state relations, to provide religious organizations with comprehensive opportunities to realize their essential mission, and support and strengthen the people in times of great trials," the DESS urges.