OHCHR / FREEDOM OF RELIGION

The UN Special Rapporteur on freedom of religion said “there is a rising tide of intolerance and restrictions imposed on the practice of the right to freedom of religion or belief, globally.” OHCHR

• Categories: News & Features / News Stories / Unifeed
• Video Length: 00:01:50
• Production Date: 6 March 2017
• Asset Language: English
• Subject Topical: RELIGIOUS FREEDOM
• MAMS Id: 1842714
• Parent Id: 1842714
• Alternate Title: unifeed170306d

Description

STORY: OHCHR / FREEDOM OF RELIGION
TRT: 01:50
SOURCE: OHCHR
LANGUAGE: ENGLISH / NATS
RESTRICTIONS: NONE

DATELINE: 6 MARCH 2017, GENEVA, SWITZERLAND

Shotlist

1. Med shot, Special Rapporteur on Freedom of religion and beliefs
2. SOUNDBITE (ENGLISH) Ahmed Shaheed, Special Rapporteur on freedom of religion or belief, UN Human Rights Council:
“There is a rising tide of intolerance and restrictions imposed on the practice of the right to freedom of religion or belief, globally. And I focus on two trends that are linked to these; the increasing politicization and securitization of religion. By that I mean that the viewing of rights through a security lens and then getting a trade-off between security and human rights. This affects the space to realise the right to freedom of religion or belief.”
3. Close up, hands
4. SOUNDBITE (ENGLISH) Ahmed Shaheed, Special Rapporteur on freedom of religion or belief, UN Human Rights Council:
“We have also seen the persecution of communities both on an individual basis and also on a group basis. We have also seen that certain communities that are in a vulnerable situation like women, refugees, migrants domestic workers, their rights are frequently impeded because of these two trends.”
5. Close up, face
6. SOUNDBITE (ENGLISH) Ahmed Shaheed, Special Rapporteur on freedom of religion or belief, UN Human Rights Council:
“The violations of the right to religion or belief come out either of State action or non-State action as well. State obligations can be better fulfilled in that the laws and the policies are in place to ensure that their commitments to respect this right are fulfilled. They can also ensure that there is no impunity for violation of this right by non-State actors. And I think there can be more education both in terms of training the next generation but also in educating people on the need to respect freedom of religion or belief and the important role that respect plays for social harmony and progress.”
7. Pan left, Human Rights Council members

Storyline

The UN Special Rapporteur on freedom of religion said “there is a rising tide of intolerance and restrictions imposed on the practice of the right to freedom of religion or belief, globally.”

In an interview in Geneva today (6 Mar), rights expert Ahmed Shaheed said “we have also seen the persecution of communities both on an individual basis and also on a group basis. We have also seen that certain communities that are in a vulnerable situation like women, refugees, migrants domestic workers, their rights are frequently impeded because of these two trends.”

He added that there is the need to educate people to respect freedom of religion or belief, on different religions and the diverse religious landscape and the important role.

The Independent expert called on States to create an environment where all people can enjoy their right to freedom of religion and belief.

He said, “The violations of the right to religion or belief come out either of State action or non-State action as well. State obligations can be better fulfilled in that the laws and the policies are in place to ensure that their commitments to respect this right are fulfilled. They can also ensure that there is no impunity for violation of this right by non-State actors. And I think there can be more education both in terms of training the next generation but also in educating people on the need to respect freedom of religion or belief and the important role that respect plays for social harmony and progress.”

Shaheed made his first report to the Human Rights Council as the Independent Expert on the right to religion and belief, where he also set out his priorities for the next three years.

He plans to focus on the implementation of state obligations to promote respect for freedom of religion or belief and for which he would seek support from member states and civil society in the coming months. The Rapporteur's agenda also endeavors to promote literacy about what the right to freedom of religion or belief means.