A/RES/57/208
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,5
Underlining the important role of education in the promotion of tolerance and
elimination of discrimination based on religion or belief,
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, are on the increase in many parts of the world
and threaten the enjoyment of human rights and fundamental freedoms,
Deeply concerned that, as reported by the Special Rapporteur of the
Commission on Human Rights on freedom of religion or belief, the rights violated
on religious grounds include the right to life, the right to physical integrity and to
liberty and security of person, the right to freedom of expression, the right not to be
subjected to torture or other cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment
and the right not to be arbitrarily arrested or detained,
Believing that intensified efforts are therefore required to promote and protect
the right to freedom of thought, conscience, religion and belief and to eliminate all
forms of hatred, intolerance and discrimination based on religion or belief, as also
emphasized at the World Conference against Racism, Racial Discrimination,
Xenophobia and Related Intolerance,
1.
Reaffirms that freedom of thought, conscience, religion and belief is a
human right derived from the inherent dignity of the human person and guaranteed
to all without discrimination;
2.
Urges States to ensure that their constitutional and legal systems provide
effective guarantees of freedom of thought, conscience, religion and belief,
including the provision of effective remedies in cases where the right to freedom of
thought, conscience, religion or belief is violated;
3.
Also urges States to ensure, in particular, that no one within their
jurisdiction is, because of their religion or belief, deprived of the right to life or the
right to liberty and security of person or subjected to torture or arbitrary arrest or
detention and to bring to justice all perpetrators of violations of these rights;
4.
Further urges States, 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 persons belonging to religious minorities;
5.
Urges States to devote particular attention to all practices motivated by
religion or belief that lead, directly or indirectly, to violations of the human rights of
women and to discrimination against women;
6.
Emphasizes that, as underlined by the Human Rights Committee,
restrictions on the freedom to manifest religion or belief are permitted only if those
limitations that 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;
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5
2
A/CONF.157/24 (Part I), chap. III, sect. II, para. 22.