Some regulations of the law on freedom of religion and non-religion: issues of improving the legal environment

The 1992 Constitution of Mongolia guarantees freedom of belief, freedom of religion or non-religion, which has become a prerequisite for the peaceful coexistence of people of various religions and beliefs. Our country is facing many legal problems, including the difficulty of registering and licensing religious organizations, the lack of transparency, restrictions on the dissemination of religious books, insufficient law enforcement, and the lack of legal regulation. These lead to unauthorized conduct of religious activities, covert conduct of religious activities by NGOs and other legal entities without supervision, the exploitation of religious beliefs to harm citizens emotionally and financially, and the mass involvement of minors in religious activities. Since the enactment of the Law on State-Church Relations in 1993, the religious situation in our country has become increasingly blurred between traditional and non-traditional religions, various new religious sects have entered, and the number of religious organizations has increased, leading to many changes. When the Mongolian government approaches religious issues, it is necessary to implement legal reforms at the intersection of international human rights principles, global socio-economic development trends, and the activities of cross-border religious organizations, including the right to practice or not to practice religion, the protection of national security and independence, the inheritance and development of national traditional intellectual culture, and the preservation of national identity. When amending and supplementing the Law on State-Church Relations, it is essential to regulate in detail key issues such as the issue of religious terminology, the establishment of a structure for regulating religious education and interfaith issues in the state system, and the transparency of the finances of religious organizations.