UN NGO Committee on Freedom of
Religion or Belief, New York
In 1991-1992, two associations of nongovernmental organizations
in
consultation with the United Nations in Geneva and New York
each formed
an NGO Committee on Freedom of Religion or Belief. Since 1992,
these
committees function as part of the Conference of Non-Governmental
Organizations (CONGO) in consultative status with ECOSOC. Between
20-25
NGO'S in both cities hold monthly meetings to discuss initiatives
towards the promotion of Article 18 and the 1981 U.N. Declaration
on the
Elimination of All Forms of Intolerance and of Discrimination
Based on
Religion or Belief. They prepare joint written or oral statements
to be
presented to human rights treaty bodies and support the work
of the U.N.
Special Rapporteur on Freedom of Religion or Belief in his
annual
mandate to monitor the 1981 U.N. Declaration and prepare studies
on how
to promote tolerance and prevent discrimination based on religion
or belief.
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