Special
Rapporteur on freedom of religion or belief
Introduction
The United Nations Commission on Human Rights appointed in resolution
1986/20 a Special Rapporteur on religious intolerance. In 2000, the
Commission on Human Rights decided to change the mandate title to
"Special Rapporteur on freedom of religion or belief", which was
subsequently endorsed by ECOSOC decision 2000/261 and welcomed by General
Assembly resolution 55/97. This change of title entered into effect in
2001, with the renewal of the mandate by Commission on Human Rights
resolution 2001/42.
The Special Rapporteur has been mandated:
- 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 continue to apply a gender perspective, inter alia through the
identification of gender-specific abuses, in the reporting process,
including in information collection and in recommendations;
- to respond effectively to credible and reliable information that comes
before her;
- to continue to seek the views and comments of Governments concerned in
the elaboration of her report;
- to continue to carry out her work with discretion, objectivity and
independence.
In the discharge of her 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:
INTERVIEW
- Asma Jahangir, Special Rapporteur on freedom of religion or
belief - Build
Space
and Create Religious Tolerance-
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