The Committee has prepared the following draft laws:
1. The Law of Ukraine "On Amendments to the Laws of Ukraine "On Citizenship of Ukraine" and "On Ensuring the Functioning of the Ukrainian Language as the State Language" regarding the Conditions for Admission to Citizenship of Ukraine" No. 2996-IX of 21.03.2023.
This Law enhanced the importance and authority of the institution of Ukrainian citizenship by introducing exams on the fundamentals of the Constitution of Ukraine and the history of Ukraine for admission to Ukrainian citizenship.
2. The Law of Ukraine "On Amendments to Certain Laws of Ukraine on Certain Issues of Issuing Identity Documents and Confirmation of Citizenship of Ukraine, Identity Documents and Confirmation of Special Status, as well as Entering Information on Registered or Declared Place of Residence in the Territory of Ukraine Temporarily Occupied by the russian federation and in the Territories Where Military Operations are (Were) Conducted" No. 3054-IX of 11.04.2023.
The Law resolves the problematic issues of issuing passport documents and registering/declaring the place of residence of persons (including minors) from the temporarily occupied territories of Ukraine and territories located in the area of military (combat) operations. The law provides for the possibility of entering information on the registered place of residence of persons from these territories into both the Unified Demographic Register and the register of territorial communities, which is a prerequisite for receiving public services.
3. Resolution of the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine "On the Annual Report of the Ukrainian Parliament Commissioner for Human Rights on the Status of Observance and Protection of Human and Civil Rights and Freedoms in Ukraine in 2022" No. 3126-IX of 30.05.2023.
The adoption of the annual report on the state of observance and protection of human and civil rights and freedoms with relevant recommendations for the Cabinet of Ministers of Ukraine, other state authorities and local self-government bodies was an important indicator of the focus of state policy on observance of the basic principles of democracy in times of war.
4. The Law of Ukraine "On Amendments to the Law of Ukraine 'On Social and Legal Protection of Persons in Respect of Whom the Deprivation of Personal Liberty as a Result of Armed Aggression against Ukraine and Members of Their Families has been Established'" to expand the list of grounds for establishing the fact of deprivation of personal liberty as a result of armed aggression against Ukraine and to bring some of its provisions in line with the legislation No. 3181-IX of 29.06.2023.
The law was adopted in response to the large-scale military invasion of the aggressor state. The legislative act supplements the list of grounds for establishing the fact of deprivation of personal liberty as a result of armed aggression against Ukraine with a document confirming the person's participation not only in the ATO and JFO, but also in the implementation of measures necessary to ensure the defence of Ukraine, protection of the security of the population and the interests of the state in connection with the military aggression of the russian federation against Ukraine.
5. The Law of Ukraine "On Amendments to the Law of Ukraine "On Immigration" on Improving the Conditions and Procedure for Immigration of Foreigners and Stateless Persons to Ukraine" No. 3180-IX of 29.06.2023.
The law minimises the possibility for foreigners and stateless persons to obtain an immigration permit on the basis of a fictitious marriage and expands the legal grounds for refusing to grant an immigration permit, in particular, to persons who have been prosecuted for illegal crossing or attempting to illegally cross the state border of Ukraine, or who have violated the procedure for entering or leaving the temporarily occupied territory of Ukraine, or who have violated the legislation on the legal status of foreigners and stateless persons.
6. Resolution of the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine on the Statement of the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine on the Priorities of the State Policy of Ukraine in the Field of De-occupation, Reintegration and Restoration of the Autonomous Republic of Crimea and the City of Sevastopol No. 3333-IX of 23.08.2023.
7. The Law of Ukraine "On Amendments to the Law of Ukraine "On National Minorities (Communities) of Ukraine" on Certain Issues of Exercising the Rights and Freedoms of Persons Belonging to National Minorities (Communities) of Ukraine" No. 3389-IX of 21.09.2023.
The provisions of the adopted legislative act take into account a significant part of the comments of the Venice Commission and create preconditions for improving state policy in the field of protection of the rights and freedoms of persons belonging to national minorities (communities).
8. The Law of Ukraine "On Amendments to the Law of Ukraine "On Ensuring the Rights and Freedoms of Internally Displaced Persons" on Certain Issues of Providing Internally Displaced Persons with Temporary Accommodation" No. 3446-IX of 08.11.2023.
The law introduced provisions for local governments to form housing funds for temporary accommodation of internally displaced persons. For these purposes, the relevant local governments have been granted an additional tool – the ability to lease residential premises to accommodate internally displaced persons. The law also grants the Cabinet of Ministers of Ukraine the right to determine an additional list of particularly vulnerable categories of internally displaced persons (in addition to those already defined in the legislation) who, after the expiry of the six-month period, will not be required to pay rent for living in temporary housing.
9. The Law of Ukraine "On Amendments to Certain Laws of Ukraine on Taking into Account the Expert Opinion of the Council of Europe and its Bodies on the Rights of National Minorities (Communities) in Certain Areas" No. 3504-IX of 08.12.2023.
The Law improves the legislative regulation of the exercise of the rights and freedoms of persons belonging to national minorities (communities) in accordance with the provisions of the European Convention on Human Rights, the Council of Europe Framework Convention for the Protection of National Minorities, the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages, and the recommendations of the Venice Commission. The adoption of the law was an important element in fulfilling Ukraine's objectives on the path to full membership in the European Union.