A/RES/53/140
Page 2
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,
Reaffirming the call of the World Conference on Human Rights, held at Vienna from 14 to 25 June
1993, 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 the desecration of religious sites,
recognizing that every individual has the right to freedom of thought, conscience, expression and religion,3
Calling upon all Governments to cooperate with the Special Rapporteur of the Commission on Human
Rights on the elimination of all forms of religious intolerance and of discrimination based on religion or belief
to enable him to carry out his mandate fully,
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 that, as reported by the Special Rapporteur, 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,4
Believing that further 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,
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 religion or belief is violated;
3. Also urges States to ensure, in particular, that no one within their jurisdiction is, because of his or
her 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;
4. Further urges States, in conformity with international standards of human rights, to take all
necessary action to prevent such instances, to take all appropriate measures to combat hatred, intolerance and
acts of violence, intimidation and coercion motivated by religious intolerance and to encourage, through the
educational system and by other means, understanding, tolerance and respect in matters relating to freedom of
religion or belief;
3
A/CONF.157/24 (Part I), chap. III, sect. II, para. 22.
4
E/CN.4/1994/79, para. 103.
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