On February 24, the next 58th session of the UN Human Rights Council starts in Geneva, and some United Nations’ reports are published now for its attention. There is the Report of the UN Special Rapporteur on freedom of religion or belief, Professor Nazila Ghanea “Freedom of religion or belief and the prohibition of torture and other cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment” A/HRC/58/49, that reflects our Association’s previous submissions on situation in the Crimea and other Russia-occupied territories of Ukraine.
In point 46 this Report stresses, referring to our and other expert NGO’s materials, that systemic discrimination based on religion or belief can also amount to coercion, and that ARC and other “civil society organizations have reported regular incidents of communal violence due to religion or belief, where perpetrators enjoy impunity”, on issues of individuals tortured with the aim of changing their beliefs.
Taking into account those submissions, Report A/HRC/58/49 demands UN member states to guarantee the absolute prohibition of coercion – upheld across both these rights – including attempts to change people’s religion or belief or forcing them to carry out religious or belief practices that go against their religion or belief.
Also Report demands to guarantee that effective preventive measures are in place to ensure non-repetition of violations, including the halting of incommunicado detention, and to offer redress, should be understood comprehensively to include effective remedy and reparation, entailing “restitution, compensation, rehabilitation, satisfaction and guarantees of nonrepetition”.
Report A/HRC/58/49 demands UN states also to address the discrimination and insecurity faced by persons and communities due to their religion or belief – especially where this is directed, condoned, instigated or inadequately addressed by State authorities or is systematic and institutionalized – and take preventive steps to abate the discrimination, threats and violence against them. Our Association’s cooperation with UN bodies on that topic will be continued.
