In a highly-significant move, a working group on religious freedom and equality has submitted a proposed law to the Peruvian government’s Ministry of Justice that would guarantee equality of treatment for all religions and persons in the country.

“This proposal will be studied by the Ministry of Justice, and may be amended,” says Dr. Abelardo Muro, one of the bill’s writers and proponents, and representative of the Seventh-day Adventist Church in the working group. “But however it is presented, this will be the most important recognition given to, and guarantee of, religious freedom and religious equality ever—this inherent right with which human beings are created.”

The bill’s 28 articles include a robust defense of religious freedom as a fundamental human right, and echoes international declarations guaranteeing the right to change one’s religion, to practice religion in accordance with the dictates of conscience, and the equality of religious bodies before the law. This last point is particularly significant in that other religious groups would be able to claim the same exemptions from taxes and other benefits currently only enjoyed by the majority religion.

“We applaud the work of this representative and committed group,” says Melchor Ferreyra, leader of the Adventist Church in Peru. “For many years religious minorities have faced discrimination, and we believe that the government is now willing to act, and to set all religious groups on the same basis before the law. Equality of treatment and the freedom to operate in accordance with beliefs are important to all citizens in Peru, and the same principles of equality and freedom need to be extended to religious organizations as well. We look forward to the speedy adoption of this much-needed law.”