Elimination of All Forms of Religious Intolerance

Who adopted this document and its mandates?

A Resolution of the General Assembly, under agenda item 114b Human rights questions, including alternative approaches for improving the effective enjoyment of human rights and fundamental freedoms, published in 2001.

What other versions does this mandate have?

30 versions · 1968–2005

This is an older version — the most recent is A/RES/59/199

Year	Symbol	Title	Word length	Text similarity
2005	A/RES/59/199	Elimination of all forms of religious intolerance	1,458	94%Compare
2004	A/RES/58/184	Elimination of all forms of religious intolerance	1,440	80%Compare
2003	A/RES/57/208	Elimination of all forms of religious intolerance	1,399	86%Compare
2002	A/RES/56/157	Elimination of all forms of religious intolerance	1,346	73%Compare
2001	A/RES/55/97	Elimination of all forms of religious intolerance	1,316	80%Compare

What’s in this document?

20 operative paragraphs

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;

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 in which the right to freedom of religion or belief is violated;

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;

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;

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;

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;

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,⁷ 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;

⁷See resolution 36/55.

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 their utmost efforts to ensure that such places, sites and shrines are fully respected and protected;

Recognizes that legislation alone is not enough to prevent violations of human rights, including the right to freedom of religion or belief, and that the exercise of tolerance and non-discrimination by persons and groups is necessary for the full realization of the aims of the Declaration;

Takes note with appreciation of the interim report of the Special Rapporteur of the Commission on Human Rights on religious intolerance,⁸ and encourages continued efforts on the part of the Special Rapporteur, who was 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;

⁸See A/55/280 and Add.1 and 2.

Welcomes the decision of the Commission on Human Rights in resolution 2000/33 of 20 April 2000⁹ to change the title of the Special Rapporteur from Special Rapporteur on religious intolerance to Special Rapporteur on freedom of religion or belief;

⁹Official Records of the Economic and Social Council, 2000, Supplement No. 3 and corrigendum (E/2000/23 and Corr.1), chap. II., sect. A.

Takes note of the study presented by the Special Rapporteur to the Preparatory Committee for the World Conference against Racism, Racial Discrimination, Xenophobia and Related Intolerance at its first session, and encourages the Special Rapporteur to continue to contribute to the preparations for the Conference, which is to be held at Durban, South Africa, in 2001, on matters relating to religious intolerance that have a bearing on the World Conference;

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;

Welcomes the initiatives of Governments and non-governmental organizations to collaborate with the Special Rapporteur, including by the convening of an international consultative conference on school education in relation to freedom of religion and belief, tolerance and non-discrimination, to be held at Madrid in November 2001, and encourages Governments, non-governmental organizations and other interested parties to participate actively in that conference;

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 for the promotion and protection of the right to freedom of thought, conscience and religion;

Welcomes and encourages the continuing efforts of non-governmental organizations and religious bodies and groups to promote the implementation and dissemination of the Declaration, and encourages their work in promoting freedom of religion or belief and in highlighting cases of religious intolerance, discrimination and persecution;

Requests the Commission on Human Rights to continue its consideration of measures for the implementation of the Declaration;

Requests the Special Rapporteur to submit an interim report to the General Assembly at its fifty-sixth session;

Requests the Secretary-General to ensure that the Special Rapporteur receives the resources necessary to enable him to discharge his mandate fully;

Decides to consider the question of the elimination of all forms of religious intolerance at its fifty-sixth session under the item entitled “Human rights questions”.

Elimination of All Forms of Religious Intolerance

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