Special Rapporteur on freedom of religion or belief

Introduction

The United Nations Commission on Human Rights decided, in resolution 1986/20 subsequently renewed, to appoint a special rapporteur on religious intolerance. The Commission requested the Special Rapporteur:  

- to examine incidents and governmental actions in all parts of the world which were inconsistent with the provisions of the Declaration on the Elimination of All Forms of Intolerance and of Discrimination Based on Religion or Belief, and to recommend remedial measures for such situations. 

- to apply a gender perspective in the reporting process, including in information collection and in recommendations;
 
- within the terms of his mandate and in the context of recommending remedial measures, to take into account the experience of various States as to which measures are most effective in promoting freedom of religion and belief and countering all forms of;
 
- to continue to bear in mind the need to be able to respond effectively to credible and reliable information that comes before him, to seek the views and comments of the Government concerned on any information which he intends to include in his report, and to continue to carry out his work with discretion and independence. 

In the discharge of his mandate the Special Rapporteur: 

a)     transmits urgent appeals and communications to States with regard to cases that represent infringements of or impediments to the exercise of the right to freedom of religion and belief.

b)     undertakes fact-finding country visits.

c)     submits annual reports to the Commission on human rights/ the Human Rights Council, and General Assembly, on the activities, trends and methods of work.

Special Rapporteurs:

• Ms. Asma Jahangir (Pakistan), since 2004
• Mr. Abdelfattah Amor (Tunisia), 1993-2004
• Mr. Angelo d'Almeida Ribeiro (Portugal), 1986-1993