VR is to adopt Istanbul Convention despite protest from Council of Churches

A large-scale march in defense of traditional family values in Kyiv, 2019. Photo: rubryka.com

The Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine plans to consider the ratification of the Council of Europe convention on preventing and combating violence against women and domestic violence (Istanbul Convention) in February, which, according to the All-Ukrainian Council of Churches and Religious Organizations, contributes to the promotion of same-sex relations at the state level, same-sex partnerships and gender ideology. The Parliament’s plans are reported by the Information and Educational Department of the UOC with reference to the religious expert Yuri Reshetnikov.

The expert said that the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine did not refuse to consider odious bills, which had repeatedly become the object of fair public criticism. "The Legislative Work Plan of the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine for 2021 again contains the draft Law of Ukraine ‘On the Ratification of the Council of Europe Convention on the Prevention of Violence against Women and Domestic Violence and Combating These Phenomena (Istanbul Convention)’, which implementation is scheduled for the current month," Reshetnikov said.

At the same time, as the expert notes, the Rada's legislative work plan for the current year "does not contain tasks related to improving the mechanisms for ensuring freedom of conscience in Ukraine, developing state-confessional relations and promoting the activities of religious organizations."

Earlier, the Council of Churches called on politicians to give up on the LGBT and gender ideology, including the ratification of the Istanbul Convention, and not to promote public propaganda of same-sex relations and transgender movement.

As reported by the UOJ, the VR will toughen punishment for violating the rights of LGBT and transsexuals.

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