UN Human Rights Council Inter-Active Diaglogue on Freedom of Religion or Belief Attachments: HUMAN RIGHTS COUNCIL INTER-ACTIVE DIALOGUE WITH U.N. SPECIAL RAPPORTEUR ON FREEDOM OF RELIGION OR BELIEF.doc
 
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WUNRN calls for consideration of GENDER DIMENSIONS of
FREEDOM OF RELIGION OR BELIEF, universal.

FULL DOCUMENT ATTACHED

 

THE TANDEM PROJECT

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HUMAN RIGHTS COUNCIL INTER-ACTIVE DIALOGUE WITH THE

U.N. SPECIAL RAPPORTEUR ON FREEDOM OF RELIGON OR BELIEF

 

From OHCHR Live Web Cast, 27 March, 2007

 

UNITED NATIONS, HUMAN RIGHTS &

FREEDOM OF RELIGION OR BELIEF

 

Issue: U.N. Human Rights Council Inter-active Dialogue on Freedom of Religion or Belief.

 

Community: United Nations, Human Rights Council, NGO’s, Civil Society.

 

Review: These are inter-active responses from 18 HRC Member States on 27 March 2007. The reports are taken verbatim from the HRC Media Releases and OHCHR Web Cast. The source can be reviewed by going to www.ohchr.org. Other than repeating the title of the U.N. Special Rapporteur on Freedom of Religion or Belief, there was little recognition that the 1981 U.N. Declaration protects all theistic, non-theistic and atheistic beliefs, as well as the right not to profess any religion or belief. The U.N. report by Abdelfattah Amor (E/CN.4/1999/58) in 1999 changed the title to Freedom of Religion or Belief to be consistent with this mandate.

 

Statement: An Issue Statement is part of each Review. Excerpts from a Review are placed under the Eight Articles of the 1981 U.N. Declaration on Freedom of Religion or Belief. 

 

Objective: Human Rights Education to assess the value of Article 18 of the U.N. Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, and the 1981 U.N. Declaration on Freedom of Religion or Belief, to monitor accountability, promote tolerance and prevent discrimination based on religion or belief.

 

Challenge: In 1967 the United Nations deferred work on an International Convention on the Elimination of all Forms of Religious Intolerance, because of its apparent complexity and sensitivity. In the twenty-first century, a dramatic increase of intolerance and discrimination on grounds of religion or belief is motivating a worldwide search to find solutions to these problems. This is a challenge calling for enhanced dialogue by States and others; including consideration of an International Convention on Freedom of Religion or Belief for protection of and accountability by all religions or beliefs. The tensions in today’s world inspire a question such as:

 

 

UN Special Rapporteur on Freedom of Religion or Belief: “Is it the appropriate moment to reinitiate the drafting of a legally binding international convention on freedom of religion or belief? Law making of this nature requires a minimum consensus and an environment that appeals to reason rather than emotions. At the same time we are on a learning curve as the various dimensions of the Declaration are being explored. Many academics have produced voluminous books on these questions but more ground has to be prepared before setting up of a UN working group on drafting a convention. In my opinion, we should not try to rush the elaboration of a Convention on Freedom of Religion or Belief, especially not in times of high tensions and unpreparedness.” - UN Special Rapporteur on Freedom of Religion or Belief, Ms. Asma Jahangir, Prague 25 Year Anniversary Commemoration of the 1981 UN Declaration, 25 November 2006.

 

 

FULL DOCUMENT ATTACHED

Examples from Full Document:

 

Asma Jahangir, the Special Rapporteur on freedom of religion and belief, said many of the allegations she had heard were alarming, yet there were also initiatives by Governments and civil society which were creative and capable of diffusing religious tensions. Preventive measures were a crucial tool in promoting religious tolerance and challenging the forces of intolerance. Torture by State agents was occurring aimed at making people abandon their faith. Governments turned a blind eye to threats meted out to lawyers. Women suffered from humiliation in the name of religion. Imposition or prohibition of dress codes for women was widely reported. In some countries women were denied education, jobs or government services for wearing a religious symbol. In some countries prison staff were not sensitive to spiritual needs of prisoners. Some beliefs were not recognized or religious practices disallowed, while prison staff misused their authority by forcing prisoners to violate their beliefs.

1. 1 Everyone shall have the right to freedom of thought, conscience and religion. This right shall include freedom to have a religion or whatever belief of his choice, and freedom, either individually or in community with others and in public or private, to manifest his religion or belief in worship, observance, practices and teaching.

 

JEANNINE VOLKEN (Switzerland) said with regards to the report of the Special Rapporteur on the freedom of religion, the report was excellent. The religious issue often played a crucial role in the prevention of conflicts and in the establishment of peace. Instrumentalised, religion could become a dangerous element of division; however, when the ethical bases on which all religions were founded were put forward, both in the guiding principles of human rights and of humanitarian law, religion could contribute effectively to reconciliation and peace.

The International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights was not limited to traditional religions or to religions that were institutionalised in the respective Constitutions of each country. In some countries, citizens had to indicate in their identity documents what religion they belonged to, even if they belonged to a religious minority or were atheists. What measures did the Special Rapporteur suggest in order to protect better the rights of religions minorities or atheists, the speaker asked?

ISSUE STATEMENT: Switzerland is the only response that focuses on protection for all religious and non-religious beliefs. The U.N. Special Rapporteur on Freedom of Religion or Belief will meet with the Geneva NGO Committee on Freedom of Religion or Belief on 28 March 2007.

 

This Review is placed under the 1981 U.N. Declaration in Articles 1.1; 1.2; 1.3; 2.1; 4.1; 4.2; 5.2; 6.1; 7.1; 8.1 in the Full Document. Click to open The Tandem Project Internet Program:

 

http://www.tandemproject.com/program.htm.

 

The Tandem Project Internet Program Objective: Human Rights Education to assess the value of Article 18 of the U.N. Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, and the 1981 U.N. Declaration on Freedom of Religion or Belief, to monitor accountability, promote tolerance and prevent discrimination based on religion or belief. The Introduction describes the Program. There are sections on Issues, Law, Concept, Education and Dialogue. Each section has an inter-active Response button. Select a section and press Response; type a Response and press Submit.

 

 

 

 

 





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