New tools for monitoring protection of the Freedom of Religion or Belief (FoRB)

Worksheets to identify and report on the violation of international human rights law

The Centre for Civil and Political Rights has developed three worksheets to assist national stakeholders - in particular civil society - in monitoring and reporting violation of the freedom of thought, conscience, religion or belief (FoRB), as enshrined in the international human rights law, especially the Article 18 of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR).

The Guiding Questions for Monitoring International Human Rights Law: This form was designed to identify violations of Article 18 of the ICCPR in general as well as its various components - such as the freedom to have or adopt a religion or belief, to manifest one’s religion or belief, and the liberty of parents to ensure the religious and moral education of their children - and to collect information to be reported to the UN Human Rights Committee and other relevant bodies.

Using an example of Viet Nam, additional two worksheets are specifically developed to monitor and assess implementation of recommendations on the freedom of religion or belief made to a State Parties by United Nations Human Rights Mechanisms. Both sheets contain same set of recommendations, but categorising them differently, one by Mechanism another by theme, allowing flexibility in their usage. They can also be used a model that can be easily modified and applied to other issues and/or countries.

The CCPR Centre recommends the use of these tools in conjunction with its “Freedom of Religion or Belief: A guide for Monitoring International Human Rights Law.”