New tool for the protection of the Freedom of Religion or Belief (FoRB)
A guide for monitoring implementation of international human rights law on FoRB
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The Guide was prepared by the Centre for Civil and Political Rights (‘CCPR Centre’) with the aim of providing practical information and guidance to monitor the implementation of international human rights law, especially article 18 of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (‘ICCPR’). It should serve as a useful tool for all actors working for the protection of the freedom of religion or belief on the ground, in particular civil society organisations (CSOs) and Human Rights Defenders (HRDs).
It provides an overview and simple explanation of ICCPR article 18, detailing aspects of the freedom of religion or belief as protected by the provision (Chapter 1). The Guide also analyses the freedom of religion or belief in view of ‘vulnerable groups’, who are at a greater risk of facing violations of their freedom due to intersecting factors and identities, such as ethnic or national origin, age, gender, citizenship or migration status (Chapter 2).
Throughout the tool there are textboxes that examine common issues related to religion that affect rights protected by ICCPR article 18 and other provisions of international human rights law. It was prepared based on research and analysis of more than 147 Concluding Observations and 123 Lists of Issues of the UN Treaty Bodies issued to State parties, mainly in Asia and the Pacific since 2010.
The Guide is available in English and Vietnamese.
""The freedom of religion or belief remains as one of the most persistent and common human rights challenges in the world. (...) This Guide in this regard is a quite helpful and practical tool for all stakeholders, including national and local authorities as well as human rights defenders.”"
