Relevant quote :
"...distinctions between state and non-state actors can blur and sometimes states use non-state actors or even mercenaries as proxy agents to commit human rights abuses.
In times of conflict or authoritarianism, various types of collusive relationships sometimes develop between State and non-State actors, including situations where State officials turn a blind eye to such violations even though they have a legal responsibility to prevent them. The international responsibility of the State arises for acts committed by non-State actors with the acquiescence of the State or where the State fails to exercise due diligence. When addressing the issue of non-State actors in justice or truth-seeking processes in particular, questions concerning the responsibility of State and non-State actors should always be considered in detail...."
п. 26 of the report of the UN Special Rapporteur on the promotion of truth, justice, reparation and guarantees of non-recurrence, Mr. Fabian Salvioli to the UN General Assembly (12 July 2022, A/HRC/51/34).
CURRENT NEWS
THE ARRESTS OF NEW PRISONERS OF CONSCIENCE - ORTHODOX JOURNALISTS OF THE UCC REPORTED TO THE UNITED NATIONS
On 02 April 2024, during the 55th session of the UN Human Rights Council, two speakers of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church - Metropolitan Theodosius (Snigirev) of Cherkasy and Kaniv and a lawyer representing the interests of UOC believers in various processes, UOC priest Fr Nikita Chekman - spoke during an interactive dialogue of diplomats and international organisations on the report of the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights on Ukraine. Read more
REPRESENTATIVES OF THE UPC CALLED ON THE UNITED NATIONS TO SUBMIT LAW 8371 "ON RENAMING" THE UPC TO THE VENICE COMMISSION FOR EVALUATION AND TO PREVENT UNLAWFUL VERDICTS AGAINST METROPOLITANS OF THE UPC
On 08 March 2024, in the format of video statements, the UN Human Rights Council during the "Panel Discussion on Countering Religious Hatred that constitutes incitement to discrimination, hostility or violence" heard an appeal by Metropolitan Feodosiy (Snigirev) of Cherkasy and Kanev and Oleg Denisov, Head of PublicAdvocacy, a human rights organisation with consultative status with the UN Economic and Social Council. More.
UN HRC blocks the decision on eviction from the temple in Ivano-Frankovsk
The request to the UN was initiated by the human rights organization NGO Public Advocacy on behalf of Archbishop Seraphim of Ivano-Frankovsk and Kolomyia after legal expertise of the case by VSI Za zmogaus apsauga (Lithuania). More...
At the 37th regular session of the UN Human Rights Council NGO "Public Advocacy " has submitted a written statement on the violations of the rights of the Jerusalem Orthodox Church.
The written statement addresses the issue of an unprecedented draft law, presented to the Knesset in July 2017 containing grounds for the infringements of the rights of religious organizations to own land, in particular, providing for the possibility of land confiscation.
The Jerusalem Patriarchate was supported by the following Patriarchs and Heads of Churches in Jerusalem:
+Patriarch Theophilos III, Greek Orthodox Patriarchate;
+Patriarch Nourhan Manougian, Armenian Apostolic Orthodox Patriarchate;
+Archbishop Pierbattista Pizzaballa, Apostolic Administrator, Latin Patriarchate;
+Fr. Francesco Patton, ofm, Custos of the Holy Land;
+Archbishop Anba Antonious, Coptic Orthodox Patriarchate, Jerusalem;
+Archbishop Swerios Malki Murad, Syrian Orthodox Patriarchate;
+Archbishop Aba Embakob, Ethiopian Orthodox Patriarchate;
+Archbishop Joseph-Jules Zerey, Greek-Melkite-Catholic Patriarchate;
+Archbishop Mosa El-Hage, Maronite Patriarchal Exarchate;
+Archbishop Suheil Dawani, Episcopal Church of Jerusalem and the Middle East;
+Bishop Munib Younan, Evangelical Lutheran Church in Jordan and the Holy Land;
+Bishop Pierre Malki, Syrian Catholic Patriarchal Exarchate;
+Msgr. Georges Dankaye’, Armenian Catholic Patriarchal Exarchate.
Meeting with His Eminence Metropolitan of Argolis NECTARIOS (Antonopoulos) of the Greek Orthodox Church
Head of the NGO “Public Advocacy” DENYSOV Oleg met with His Eminence Metropolitan of Argolis NECTARIOS (Antonopoulos) of the Greek Orthodox Church. At the meeting a discussion was held on the issues pertaining to religion-based human rights violations of Orthodox Christians in Greece and Ukraine. Upon the suggestion of Metropolitan Nectarios, a number of documents on the rights protection were developed. On his part, His Eminence sent an appeal to the United Nations Human Rights Council, arousing his serious concern over violations of the rights of believers in Ukraine.
The parties discussed the possible ways of further protection of the rights of Orthodox Christians in Greece and Ukraine via the system of the international human rights bodies and mechanisms.
PRESS RELEASE
On consideration of the issue of observance of religious freedoms in Ukraine within the framework of the meeting of the working group of the Universal Periodic Review of the 28th session of the UN Human Rights Council
On 15.11.2017 representatives of NGO "Public Advocacy" took part in the meeting of the Working Group of the Universal Periodic Review of the 28th session of the UN Human Rights Council in Geneva.See more.
Video evidence, testimonies, life-stories
Human Rights reports, statements other documents
Information message of the OSCE mission on the results of observation of the grips of churches of the UOC and other conflicts in the religious sphere in Ukraine - оn the link.
The Ukrainian human rights organisation “Public Advocacy” published the Report on violations of the rights and freedoms of religious organisations: Facts, Evidence and Claims Regarding Violations of the Rights of Believers and Religious Organizations of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church in 2014-2016
September 8, 2016. The Ukrainian human rights organisation “Public Advocacy” published the Report on violations of the rights and freedoms of religious organisations in Western Ukraine which contains new facts and details: evidence of violations in 2014-2015, Ukrainian Courts decisions, examples of hate speeches in resolutions of state authorities and other information in regard of violations of the rights of Ukrainian Orthodox Church. The full text of the report you can found here:
The Ukrainian human rights organisation “Public Advocacy” prepared the legal opinion on the draft law “Introducing amendments to the Law of Ukraine “On Freedom of Conscience and Religious Organizations” (submitted by the MPs V.Y. Yelenskyi, S.M. Voitsekhovska and others)
The text of the document and additional materials you can find here.