Ukraine’s honoring of its international obligations came into focus of the 132th session of the UN Human Rights Committee, which issued its decision on November 11, 2021. The paper states its concern with the violation of rights of Ukrainian Orthodox Church members.

The document titled “Concluding observations on the eighth periodic report of Ukraine” says: "The Committee is concerned about reports of violence, intimidation, and acts of vandalism of places of worship in connection with the process of transitioning churches and religious communities from the Ukrainian Orthodox Church to the newly established Orthodox Church of Ukraine. The Committee is further concerned about the reported inaction of the police in such incidents and the lack of information on investigations conducted by the State party (art. 18)."

The UN Human Rights Committee pointed out that Ukraine, being a member-state, is obliged to "(a) Guarantee the effective exercise of freedom of religion and belief, including by ensuring protection of places of worship against violence, intimidation, and acts of vandalism; and (b) Ensure that all cases of violence are thoroughly and promptly investigated and sanctioned."

In his comments regarding the decision of the Human Rights Committee, Oleg Denisov, Head of the Public Advocacy NGO, stressed: "The UN decision is quite imperative in pointing out to Ukrainian authorities that their policy regarding the Ukrainian Orthodox Church community is inadmissible." Oleg Denisov also noted that this decision exposes as fake all reports on the allegedly “voluntary” transfer of UOC parishes to other confessions or jurisdictions.