WUNRN
Website & Mandate of UN Special
Rapporteur on Freedom of Religion or Belief
Mr. Heiner Bielefeldt
of Germany:
FREEDOM OF RELIGION OR BELIEF - UN
RAPPORTEUR DIGEST 1986-2011
Direct Link to Full 108-Page Digest:
IMPORTANT: This Digest Report
provides MULTIPLE GENDER DIMENSIONS.
Particularly significant are pages
60-65 describing in detail women as a Vulnerable Group with specific issues
related to Freedom of Religion or Belief.
Digest Excerpts - pp. 65 - 69. -
A/65/207, paragraphs 14-16 and 69 - UN GA Interim Report of previous SR
Freedom of Religion or Belief, Asma Jahangir.
14. There are a number of practices
that discriminate against women or are harmful to their health, such as female
genital mutilation, infanticide, cruelty to widows, honour killings and
discriminatory person status laws. Many of the practices are attributable
mainly to cultural interpretations of religious precepts or even conflict with
the prescriptions of religions. However, certain harmful practices are claimed
by religious leaders, communities or States, as a religious duty by which they
and their ancestors have been bound since time immemorial. All this makes it particularly
difficult to challenge and adequately address such harmful practices.
15. In communications to
Governments, thematic reports, and during country missions, the Special
Rapporteur has recommended enacting legislation to eliminate discriminatory or
harmful practices and repealing laws that infringe the rights of
women........
16. States should take
effective and necessary steps to ensure enjoyment by women of their rights to
equality before the law and equal protection of the law.........
69. The Special Rapporteur
strongly believes that the mandate needs to continue highlighting
discriminatory practices that women have had to suffer over the centuries and
continue to do so, sometimes in the name of religion or within their religious
community........
