Freedom of Religion or Belief <?xml:namespace prefix = o ns = "urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:office" /> 

The United Nations first stated the right to freedom of religion or belief in Article 18 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights (1948): Everyone has the right to freedom of thought, conscience and religion; this right includes freedom to change his religion or belief, and freedom, either alone or in community with others and in public or private, to manifest his religion or belief in teaching, practice, worship and observance.

 

This right was stated in greater detail in Article 18 of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (1966), which declares:

 

1. Everyone shall have the right to freedom of thought, conscience and religion. This right shall include freedom to have or to adopt a religion or belief of his choice, and freedom, either individually or in community with others and in public or private, to manifest his religion or belief in worship, observance, practice and teaching.

 

2. No one shall be subject to coercion which would impair his freedom to have or to adopt a religion or belief of his choice.

 

3. Freedom to manifest one’s religion or beliefs may be subject only to such limitations as are prescribed by law and are necessary to protect public safety, order, health, or morals or the fundamental rights and freedoms of others.

 

4. The States Parties to the present Covenant undertake to have respect for the liberty of parents and, when applicable, legal guardians to ensure the religious and moral education of their children in conformity with their own convictions.

 

Finally, in 1981, the United Nations adopted a full declaration in defence of freedom of religion or belief, titled the Declaration on the Elimination of all Forms of Intolerance and of Discrimination Based on Religion or Belief. The UN appointed a Special Rapporteur to submit annual reports on how UN member states comply with the 1981 Declaration.

 

You Can Help

As IHEU expands its work at the United Nations, the right to freedom of religion or belief will continue to be an important area of activity. There are several ways IHEU member organizations can help this work and also use it to defend Humanist rights in their own countries. For example, they can:

 

Ï   Publicize the right to freedom of religion or belief, and its protection of both the religious and the non-religious.

 

Ï   Organize conferences and research projects to explore and advance these rights.

 

Ï   Join coalitions working to defend freedom of conscience.

 

Ï   Collect information on violations of the freedom of conscience and submit it to the UN.

 

Information about violations of the freedom of religion or belief can be submitted directly to the office of the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights (see http://www.unhchr.ch/html/menu2/2/special-complaints.htm for more details).

 

Humanist complainants may also contact me (at ) or the IHEU office for assistance.

Matt Cherry is Executive Director of the Institute for Humanist Studies and an IHEU representative at the UN.