Document #1207975
IRB – Immigration and Refugee Board of Canada (Author)
A copy of the requested document could not be found among sources consulted by the Research Directorate. No information on Decree 360 could be found among the sources consulted by the Research Directorate.
According to Asylumlaw's Country Assessment, Ukraine passed an amendment to its law on alternative service in December 1998 (Sept. 1999). The amendment states that those individuals undertaking alternative service can serve at charities, Red Cross institutions or public utilities (ibid.), but must serve twice as long as those in regular military service (ibid.; AI Dec. 2001). Alternative service can only be performed by members of officially registered religious organizations (ibid.). Amnesty International further states that: "...according to reports, followers of religious confessions which have not been registered officially by the authorities are denied the right to alternative civilian service on the grounds of their religious beliefs" (ibid. Apr. 1997).
Three oral sources, including the Embassy of Ukraine in Ottawa, were unable to provide a copy of the requested document.
This Response was prepared after researching publicly accessible information currently available to the Research Directorate within time constraints. This Response is not, and does not purport to be, conclusive as to the merit of any particular claim to refugee status or asylum. Please find below the list of additional sources consulted in researching this Information Request.
References
Amnesty International. 2001. Amnesty
International Report 2001. http://web.amnesty.org/web/ar2001.nsf/webeurcountries/UKRAINE?OpenDocument
[Accessed 28 November 2001]
_____. April 1997. Out of the
Margins: The Right to Conscientious Objection in Europe. http://www.web.amnesty.org/ai.nsf/index/EUR010021997
[Accessed 30 November 2001]
Asylumlaw [Internet site]. September
1999. Ukraine: Country Assessment. http://www.asylumlaw.org/docs/ukraine/ind99b_ukraine_ca.htm
[Accessed 28 November 2001]
Additional Sources Consulted
IRB Databases
World News Connection
Embassy of Ukraine in Ottawa
Three oral sources contacted did not
provide information
Internet sites including:
Amnesty International
2000 Annual Report on International
Religious Freedom
BRAMA - Gateway to Ukraine
Christian Solidarity International
The Human Rights Centre "Viasna" -
Minsk
Hokkaido University Slavic Research
Centre
International Christian Concern
International Coalition for Religious
Freedom
International Helsinki Federation for
Human Rights
Keston Institute
Non-Violence International
Religious Information Service of
Ukraine
Russia Religion News - Stetson
University
War Resisters International