A/RES/53/140
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5. Recognizes that legislation alone is not enough to prevent violations of human rights, including the
right to freedom of religion or belief;
6. 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;
7. Urges States to ensure that, in the course of their official duties, members of law enforcement
bodies, civil servants, educators and other public officials respect different religions and beliefs and do not
discriminate against persons professing other religions or beliefs;
8. Calls upon all States to recognize, as provided for in the Declaration on the Elimination of All
Forms of Intolerance and of Discrimination Based on Religion or Belief, the right of all persons to worship or
assemble in connection with a religion or belief and to establish and maintain places for those purposes;
9. Expresses its grave concern at any attack upon religious places, sites and shrines, and calls upon
all States, in accordance with their national legislation and in conformity with international human rights
standards, to exert the utmost efforts to ensure that such places, sites and shrines are fully respected and
protected;
10. Recognizes that the exercise of tolerance and non-discrimination by persons and groups is
necessary for the full realization of the aims of the Declaration;
11. Encourages the continued efforts on the part of 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 appointed to examine incidents and governmental actions in all parts of the world that are
incompatible with the provisions of the Declaration and to recommend remedial measures as appropriate;
12. Encourages Governments to give serious consideration to inviting the Special Rapporteur to visit
their countries so as to enable him to fulfil his mandate even more effectively;
13. Also encourages Governments, when seeking the assistance of the United Nations Programme of
Advisory Services and Technical Assistance in the Field of Human Rights, to consider, where appropriate,
including requests for assistance in the field of the promotion and protection of the right to freedom of
thought, conscience and religion;
14. Welcomes and encourages the efforts of non-governmental organizations and religious bodies and
groups to promote the implementation of the Declaration, and invites them to consider what further
contribution they could make to its implementation and dissemination in all parts of the world;
15. Requests the Commission on Human Rights to continue its consideration of measures to implement
the Declaration;
16. Requests the Special Rapporteur to submit an interim report to the General Assembly at its
fifty-fourth session;
17. Requests the Secretary-General to ensure that the Special Rapporteur receives the necessary
staffing, financial and material resources to enable him to discharge his mandate in full and on time;
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