OSCE Office supports discussion to improve Armenia's legal framework for freedom of religion or belief

YEREVAN, 17 February 2011 – The OSCE Office in Yerevan supported a roundtable discussion today to review legal opinions prepared by the Venice Commission and the OSCE Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights (ODIHR) aimed at helping to improve Armenia's legislative framework for freedom of religion or belief.
The OSCE Office organized the event jointly with the Partnership for Open Society Initiative and the United Nations Department of Public Information Office in Yerevan.

Justice Minister Hrayr Tovmasyan and other representatives of government bodies, civil society, religious organizations and the international community discussed challenges, recent amendments to the Law on Freedom of Conscience and Religious Organizations and related laws, as well as the Venice Commission and OSCE/ODIHR joint legal opinions from 2009 and 2010..

“This event provided a necessary forum enabling representatives of governmental and civil society organizations to share their views on the recent legal amendments," said the Head of the OSCE Office in Yerevan, Ambassador Sergey Kapinos. “This discussion contributed to Armenian authorities' efforts to prepare sound legislation on freedom of religion or belief.”

International experts presented the assessment and recommendations contained in the legal opinions and discussed ways to create legislation in line with international standards.

"The opinions contain specific recommendations to bring the legislation in line with OSCE commitments and other international standards on freedom of religion or belief," said Simona Santoro, ODIHR Adviser on Freedom of Religion or Belief. "It advises, for instance, on the scope of the law, the manifestation of a religion or a belief in public or private, and the acquisition of legal personality for religious organizations."

Tovmasyan added:
"We are willing to take the legal expert opinion into account, and we already have made arrangements to do so. The final version of the law will also be presented to legal review.”