Interactive Dialogue with the Special Rapporteur on Freedom of Religion or Belief
Today, In her first report to the UN Human Rights Council, Nazila Ghanea outlined her vision for how she plans to carry out her mandate as Special Rapporteur on freedom of religion or belief. Ghanea emphasized that freedom of religion or belief is a universal right and should be freely enjoyed without interference or fear: calling for an end to discrimination and violence based on it.
The report highlighted three critical dimensions of the mandate: the advancement of freedom of religion or belief for everyone, the prohibition of any discrimination on the basis of religion or belief, and the denial of human rights in the name of religion or belief. Ghanea stressed that the abuse of religion or belief as a tool of discrimination, hostility, and violence must cease and be condemned by all actors at every level of society.
However, despite the fact that freedom of religion or belief is a universal human rights, there are still many outstanding freedom of religion or belief recommendations that remain unfulfilled. Ghanea notes that the universality of freedom of religion or belief is evidenced in international and cross-regional normative instruments. International standards are clear that the manifestation of freedom of religion or belief is not subject to the limitation on the grounds of national security and that freedom of religion or belief is not subject to derogation in times of public emergency.
The report also calls on States and other actors to ensure that activities relating to religion or belief recognize the different structures of leadership and representation that draw from within those communities and their beliefs, practices, convictions, and autonomy and be inclusive of them. The report concludes with a set of recommendations addressed to States, international organizations and multilateral institutions, international non-governmental organizations, non-governmental organizations, and faith-based actors.
The report’s recommendations include achieving coherence in domestic and foreign policy efforts, avoiding singling out particular religious or belief minorities, ensuring a good understanding of freedom of religion or belief among different authorities, and cooperating fully with the Special Rapporteur. The Special Rapporteur also recommended weaving freedom of religion or belief into all arenas of international organizations and multilateral institutions’ work, using a victim-centered approach, and collaborating with faith-based actors. Ghanea urged regional organizations to activate their freedom of religion or belief standards through jurisprudence integrated with human rights. Finally, Ghanea encouraged all stakeholders to use inclusive language, advocate for the respect of human rights without comparisons, and use legal terms with attention to their human rights meaning.
In the following discussion, many speakers expressed their gratitude to Ghanea for her comprehensive report and noted its recommendations. Speakers agreed with the concerns of the Special Rapporteur regarding the challenges around the freedom of religion, particularly the increase of religious hatred acts. They reaffirmed support for all international efforts aimed at rejecting all forms of defamation of religion.
Speakers also condemned all forms of intolerance against religion, both online and offline. Instances such as the recent burning of the Qur’an in Stockholm are evidence that this discrimination persists, and speakers were very concerned about these occurrences. These acts, which served to incite hate, should be condemned. The Special Rapporteur was urged to denounce such acts in accordance with her mandate, and States were called on to hold perpetrators accountable. Discussions universally held that there should be increased international efforts to fight against Islamophobia, radicalism, and hate.
Some speakers called on the Special Rapporteur to set an international objective to be achieved by the one-hundredth anniversary of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, similar to the 2030 Sustainable Development Goals. They stressed the importance of promoting and protecting freedom of religion or belief for all. It is crucial for States and other actors to take concrete steps towards ending discrimination and violence based on religion or belief, and to ensure that everyone can freely enjoy their right to practice and believe as they choose.
The report by Ghanea and the following discussion demonstrates the importance of promoting and protecting freedom of religion or belief for all. It is crucial for States and other actors to take concrete steps towards ending discrimination and violence based on religion or belief, and to ensure that everyone can freely enjoy their right to practice and believe as they choose.
The discussion will continue on Tuesday, March 14th during the Interactive Dialogue with the Special Rapporteur.
