UOC not to go to Human Rights Council because of UN decision on COVID-19
Human Rights Council. Photo: ohchr.org
The Mission of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church will not be able to take part in the side events of the 43d Session of the UN Human Rights Council because of their cancellation. Participants were called to refrain from travelling to Geneva because of the coronavirus, said the head of the Mission of the UOC to European International Organizations Bishop Viktor (Kotsaba) of Baryshevka on his Telegram channel.
On 2 March 2020, the Bureau of the Human Rights Council held an urgent meeting to discuss the situation with the COVID-19 and its impact on the 43rd Session of the Council.
The Director-General of the UN Office in Geneva sent a letter to the head of the Human Rights Council in which he informed that the situation with the virus had led to the cancellation of all side events, and therefore he called on participants to refrain from travelling to Geneva.
The UN Bureau followed the recommendations of the Director-General of the UN Office and introduced precautions from 3 March until the end of the session.
The Mission of the UOC to European International Organizations planned to participate in the side events on the observance of religious rights and freedoms in Ukraine and other European countries.
As reported, the Archbishop of the RCC stated that the text of the latest UN report on "Freedom of Religion or Belief and Gender Equality" does not reflect the social and cultural realities of many peoples and is partly unacceptable and offensive.
Read also
Shevchuk tells Budanov of UGCC’s “state-building role”
The head of the Uniates told the head of the Presidential Office that his Church was ready to partner with the state and presented him with a book on the work of special services in the Church.
Authorities decline to disclose Ukraine’s population size
The State Statistics Service acknowledged that it has up-to-date population estimates for the country, but has decided not to make them public.
Lithuanian govt vows to protect Orthodox Church from Russian intelligence
Lithuania’s Foreign Ministry has called for curbing the influence of Russian intelligence services on the Church, while an adviser to President Nausėda warned against labeling the entire structure a security threat.
During Ramadan, Patriarch Theodoros hosts Islamic iftar at his residence
Patriarch Theodoros of Alexandria hosted a meal for Muslim workers breaking their fast in the courtyard of the Patriarchate and thanked a sheikh for his “brotherhood.”
Lawsuit filed against Patriarch of Constantinople
A Turkish official has accused Patriarch Bartholomew and dozens of clergy of “illegal activity” and violating the Treaty of Lausanne.
OCU cleric buried with Church Slavonic funeral shroud
In the Ternopil Eparchy of the OCU, a cleric was buried under a funeral shroud bearing inscriptions in Church Slavonic.