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Letter PAMHO:3888349 (409 lines) [W1]

Internet: HRWF - DHSF International Secretariat

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UN

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HUMAN RIGHTS

 

 

 

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Information and Press Service

 

 

 

"Religious Intolerance and Discrimination"

 

 

 

January 12, 2001

 

 

 

Editor-in-chief: Willy Fautré

 

 

 

 

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Table of contents

 

1. UN: Commission on Human Rights resolution 2000/84

 

2. UN: Commission on Human Rights resolution 2000/33

 

 

 

 

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1. UN

 

 

Distr.

GENERAL

 

E/CN.4/RES/2000/84

27 April 2000

 

 

Original: ENGLISH

 

Defamation of religions

 

Commission on Human Rights resolution 2000/84

 

 

 

 

The Commission on Human Rights,

 

Recalling that all States have pledged themselves, under the Charter of the

United Nations, to promote and encourage universal respect for and bservance

of

human rights and fundamental freedoms for all without distinction as to

race,

sex, language or religion,

 

 

Recalling also its resolution 1999/82 of 30 April 1999,

 

 

Reaffirming that discrimination against human beings on the grounds of

religion

or belief constitute an affront to human dignity and a disavowal of the

principles of the Charter of the United Nations,

 

 

Recognizing that discrimination based on religion or belief constitutes an

offence to human dignity and a violation of human rights,

 

 

Reaffirming the call of the World Conference on Human Rights for all

Governments to take all appropriate measures, in compliance with their

international obligations and with due regard to their respective legal

systems, to counter intolerance and related violence based on religion or

belief, including practices of discrimination against women and including

desecration of religious sites, recognizing that every individual has the

right

to freedom of thought, conscience, expression and religion,

 

 

Alarmed at the serious instances of intolerance, discrimination and acts of

violence based on religion or belief, including acts of violence,

intimidation

and coercion motivated by religious extremism, occurring in many parts of

the

world and threatening the enjoyment of human rights and fundamental

freedoms,

 

 

Underlining the importance of creating conditions to foster greater harmony

and

tolerance within and among societies and conscious of the importance of

education in ensuring tolerance of and respect for religion and belief,

 

 

Welcoming the designation by the General Assembly of the year 2001 as the

United Nations Year of Dialogue among Civilizations,

 

 

Expressing its appreciation in this context of the joint efforts of the

member

States of the Organization of the Islamic Conference and the United Nations

High Commissioner for Human Rights in organizing the seminar entitled

"Enriching the Universality of Human Rights: Islamic Perspectives on the

Universal Declaration of Human Rights" in Geneva on 9 and 10 November 1998,

 

 

Emphasizing that non-governmental organizations, religious bodies and

communities have an important role to play in the promotion of tolerance and

the protection of freedom of religion or belief,

 

 

 

a.. Expresses deep concern at negative stereotyping of religions;

 

 

 

b.. Also expresses deep concern that Islam is frequently and wrongly

associated with human rights violations and with terrorism;

 

 

 

c.. Expresses its concern at any role in which the print, audio-visual or

electronic media or any other means is used to incite acts of violence,

xenophobia or related intolerance and discrimination towards Islam and any

other religion;

 

 

 

d.. Urges all States, within their national legal framework, in conformity

with international human rights instruments to take all appropriate measures

to

combat hatred, discrimination, intolerance and acts of violence,

intimidation

and coercion motivated by religious intolerance, including attacks on

religious

places, and to encourage understanding, tolerance and respect in matters

relating to freedom of religion or belief;

 

 

 

e.. Invites Governments, intergovernmental and regional organizations to

provide their views on the religious perspectives of combating racism to the

Secretary-General of the World Conference against Racism, Racial

Discrimination, Xenophobia and Related Intolerance and invites the

Secretary-General of the World Conference, through its preparatory process,

to

present these inputs to the World Conference;

 

 

 

f.. Calls upon the Special Rapporteur on religious intolerance and the

Special Rapporteur on racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia and related

intolerance to take into account the provisions of the present resolution

when

reporting to the Commission;

 

 

 

g.. Decides to remain seized of the matter.

 

 

 

 

67th meeting

26 April 2000

[Adopted without a vote. ]

 

 

 

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2. UN

 

 

 

 

Distr.

GENERAL

 

E/CN.4/RES/2000/33

20 April 2000

 

 

Original: ENGLISH

 

 

 

Implementation of the Declaration on the Elimination of All Forms

of Intolerance and of Discrimination Based on Religion or Belief

Commission on Human Rights resolution 2000/33

 

The Commission on Human Rights,

 

 

Recalling that all States have pledged themselves, under the Charter of the

United Nations, to promote and encourage universal respect for and

observance

of human rights and fundamental freedoms for all without distinction as to

race, sex, language or religion,

 

Recalling also General Assembly resolution 36/55 of 25 November 1981, by

which

it proclaimed the Declaration on the Elimination of All Forms of Intolerance

and of Discrimination Based on Religion or Belief,

 

Recalling further article 18 of the International Covenant on Civil and

Political Rights, article 18 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights

and

other relevant provisions,

 

Reaffirming the call of the World Conference on Human Rights upon all

Governments to take all appropriate measures in compliance with their

international obligations and with due regard to their respective legal

systems

to counter intolerance and related violence based on religion or belief,

including practices of discrimination against women and the desecration of

religious sites, recognizing that every individual has the right to freedom

of

thought, conscience, expression and religion,

 

Alarmed that serious instances of intolerance and discrimination on the

grounds

of religion or belief, including acts of violence, intimidation and coercion

motivated by religious intolerance, occur in many parts of the world and

threaten the enjoyment of human rights and fundamental freedoms,

 

Deeply concerned at the increase in violence and discrimination against

religious minorities, including restrictive legislation and arbitrary

application of legislation and other measures,

 

Emphasizing that the right to freedom of thought, conscience, religion and

belief is far-reaching and profound, and that it encompasses freedom of

thought

on all matters, personal conviction and the commitment to religion or

belief,

whether manifested individually or in community with others,

 

 

1.Welcomes the report of the Special Rapporteur on religious intolerance

(E/CN.4/2000/65);

 

 

2.Condemns all forms of intolerance and of discrimination based on religion

or

belief;

 

 

3.Encourages the efforts made by the United Nations High Commissioner for

Human

Rights to coordinate in the field of human rights the activities of relevant

United Nations organs, bodies, and mechanisms dealing with all forms of

intolerance and of discrimination based on religion or belief;

 

 

4.Urges States:

 

 

 

1.. To ensure that their constitutional and legislative systems provide

adequate and effective guarantees of freedom of thought, conscience,

religion

and belief to all without discrimination, inter alia by the provision of

effective remedies in cases where the right to freedom of religion or

belief,

including the freedom to change one's religion or belief, is violated;

 

 

2.. To ensure, in particular, that no one within their jurisdiction is

deprived of the right to life or the right to liberty and security of person

because of religion or belief, or is subjected to torture or arbitrary

arrest

or detention on that account;

 

 

 

3.. In conformity with international standards of human rights, to take

all

necessary action to combat hatred, intolerance and acts of violence,

intimidation and coercion motivated by intolerance based on religion or

belief,

with particular regard to religious minorities, and also to devote

particular

attention to practices which violate the human rights of women and

discriminate

against women;

 

 

 

4.. To recognize the right of all persons to worship or assemble in

connection with a religion or belief and to establish and maintain places

for

these purposes;

 

 

 

5.. To exert utmost efforts, in accordance with their national legislation

and in conformity with international human rights standards, to ensure that

religious places, sites and shrines are fully respected and protected;

 

 

 

6.. To ensure that all public officials, including members of law

enforcement

bodies, in the course of their official duties respect different religions

and

beliefs and do not discriminate on the grounds of religion or belief;

 

 

 

7.. To promote and encourage, through education and other means,

understanding, tolerance and respect in matters relating to freedom of

religion

or belief;

 

 

5.Emphasizes that, as underlined by the Human Rights Committee, restrictions

on

the freedom to manifest religion or belief are permitted only if limitations

are prescribed by law, are necessary to protect public safety, order, health

or

morals, or the fundamental rights and freedoms of others, and are applied in

a

manner that does not vitiate the right to freedom of thought, conscience and

religion;

 

 

6. Encourages the continuing efforts of the Special Rapporteur to examine

incidents and governmental actions in all parts of the world that are

incompatible 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 as appropriate;

 

 

7. Stresses the need for the Special Rapporteur 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;

 

 

8. Notes that the Special Rapporteur has undertaken a study on religious

discrimination and racism and looks forward to its presentation at the first

session, to be held in May 2000, of the Preparatory Committee for the World

Conference against Racism, Racial Discrimination, Xenophobia and Related

Intolerance and encourages the Special Rapporteur to contribute further to

the

preparations for the World Conference, to be held in 2001, by forwarding to

the

High Commissioner his recommendations on religious intolerance which have a

bearing on the World Conference;

 

 

9. Calls upon all Governments to cooperate fully with the Special Rapporteur

on

religious intolerance, to respond favourably to requests from the Special

Rapporteur to visit their countries and to give serious consideration to

inviting the Special Rapporteur to visit so as to enable him to fulfil his

mandate even more effectively;

 

 

10. Welcomes the work of the Special Rapporteur and reiterates the need for

him

to be able to respond effectively to credible and reliable information that

comes before him, and invites him to continue to seek the views and comments

of

Governments concerned in the elaboration of his report, as well as to

continue

to carry out his work with discretion, objectivity and independence;

 

 

11. Decides to change the title of the Special Rapporteur from Special

Rapporteur on religious intolerance to Special Rapporteur on freedom of

religion or belief and that this change will be implemented at the next

extension of the Special Rapporteur's mandate;

 

12. Recognizes that the exercise of tolerance and non-discrimination by all

actors in society is necessary for the full realization of the aims of the

Declaration;

 

 

13. Welcomes the initiatives of Governments to collaborate with the Special

Rapporteur, including the convening of an international consultative

conference

on school education in relation to freedom of religion and belief, to be

held

in Madrid in November 2001;

 

 

14. Welcomes and encourages the continuing efforts of non-governmental

organizations and religious bodies and groups to promote the implementation

of

the Declaration, to foster freedom of religion and in highlighting cases of

religious intolerance, discrimination and persecution;

 

15. Recommends that the United Nations and other actors, in their efforts to

promote freedom of religion and belief, ensure the widest possible

dissemination of the text of the Declaration, in as many different languages

as

possible, by United Nations information centres, as well as by other

interested

bodies;

 

 

16. Requests the Secretary-General to ensure that the Special Rapporteur

receives the necessary assistance to enable him fully to discharge his

mandate;

 

 

17. Requests the Special Rapporteur to submit an interim report to the

General

Assembly at its fifty-fifth session and to report to the Commission at its

fifty-seventh session;

 

 

18. Decides to consider the question of the elimination of all forms of

religious intolerance at its fifty-seventh session under the same agenda

item.

 

 

 

 

60th meeting

20 April 2000

[Adopted without a vote. ]

(Text PAMHO:3888349) ------

 

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