THE
TANDEM PROJECT
HUMAN
RIGHTS COUNCIL INTER-ACTIVE DIALOGUE WITH THE
U.N.
SPECIAL RAPPORTEUR ON FREEDOM OF RELIGON OR
BELIEF
From OHCHR Live Web Cast,
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
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.
FULL
DOCUMENT ATTACHED
Examples
from Full Document:
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 (
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:
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.