OSCE/ODIHR trains Ukrainian lawyers on litigation related to freedom of religion or belief

The right to freedom of religion or belief in the case law and practice of the European Court of Human Rights was the focus of training organized by the OSCE Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights (ODIHR) on 11 and 12 February 2016 in Kyiv.

The event provided 17 lawyers with a greater understanding of the main principles underpinning the right to freedom of religion or belief as enshrined in the European Convention on Human Rights and other international human rights instruments, as well as of the relevant case law and the procedural aspects of bringing cases before the Court.

"Freedom of religion or belief under the European Convention of Human Rights is valueless unless the right can be enforced through legal process," Mark Hill,  a barrister specializing in human rights and law and religion who represents clients in the United Kingdom Supreme Court and the European Court of Human Rights, said while leading the training, "ODIHR should be commended for providing structured training to Ukrainian lawyers on how they can bring proceedings to the European Court of Human Rights to protect individual freedom of religion or belief and the collective rights of churches and faith communities. The training will equip local lawyers with the tools to navigate case law and the complex procedures of the Court."

This training course was organized within the framework of ODIHR’s project on "Promoting Security for Religious Communities and Others in the Regions of Ukraine". The event concludes the project’s capacity-building activities on freedom of religion or belief and preventing hate crime.