AUCCRO speaks out against equating traditional family & same-sex marriage

A meeting of the AUCCRO. Photo: focus.ua

The All-Ukrainian Council of Churches and Religious Organizations has issued a statement on the inadmissibility of equating same-sex cohabitation with family.

The document states that "the decision of the European Court of Human Rights (ECHR) in the case of Maimulakhin and Markov vs Ukraine has triggered a new wave of debate on the threats posed by legislative initiatives aimed at promoting unnatural sexual relations and granting the status of a family union to same-sex cohabitation".

The All-Ukrainian Council of Churches and Religious Organisations reminded that "ECHR decisions cannot serve as a basis for changing the constitutional principles of a country" and neither the European Court nor the Council of Europe "have the power to change the legislation of any state".

"We understand that international institutions and foreign partners, taking advantage of the vulnerability and difficult situation in our country, may try to force Ukraine to make legislative changes in order to abandon its family foundations. However, Ukraine lives in a continental legal system, where the fundamental principles of life are determined by the Constitution and laws, not by court decisions," the AUCCRO stressed.

The organisation believes that "no matter how much the supporters of gender ideology would like to use the above-mentioned decision of the ECHR and external influences to rewrite the Constitution of Ukraine and destroy the value of the family based on spousal marriage, only the people of Ukraine have the sovereign right to decide such issues".

"Initiatives to equate same-sex cohabitation with the family (formally legalising so-called same-sex partnerships, effectively equating them with marriage and granting them adoption rights) are extremely dangerous during the current demographic crisis in Ukraine, which is catastrophically worsening amid the ongoing war," the document said.

The AUCCRO believes that "the Ukrainian state cannot ignore the demographic problem and accept external pressure aimed at undermining the family values of our people".

"We must preserve our nation and ensure the best possible conditions for children, including orphans, to be raised in the bosom of a loving family, where both father and mother are present," the statement stressed.

It was noted that "contrary to the claims of those lobbying for unacceptable legal amendments, a number of issues governing certain aspects of relationships are already addressed by Ukrainian law (e.g., visiting rights, inheritance rights, etc.) and do not require a fundamentally new, ideologically motivated law".

In view of this, the organisation called on the President, Cabinet of Ministers and Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine "not to adopt any legislative changes aimed at granting family status to same-sex cohabitants" and also called on "every member of government and parliamentarian to stand with the Ukrainian people for whom the family is a fundamental value in life".

As reported, for the first time a gay couple sued Ukraine for 10,000 euros for discrimination.

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