Elimination of all forms of religious intolerance

Urges States to ensure that their constitutional and legal systems provide adequate and effective guarantees of freedom of thought, conscience, religion and belief and no one within their jurisdiction is deprived of the right to life or the right to liberty and security of person or subjected to torture or arbitrary arrest or detention; also urges States to take all appropriate measures to combat hatred, intolerance and acts of violence, intimidation and coercion motivated by religious intolerance and to encourage understanding, tolerance and respect in matters relating to freedom of religion or belief; calls upon all States to recognize, as provided in the Declaration on the Elimination of All Forms of Intolerance and of Discrimination Based on Religion or Belief, 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; expresses its grave concern at any attack upon religious places and calls upon all States to exert utmost efforts to ensure that such places are fully respected and protected; encourages the continued efforts on the part of the Special Rapporteur of the Commission on Human Rights on the elimination of all forms of religious intolerance and of discrimination based on religion or belief and encourages Governments to give serious consideration to inviting the Special Rapporteur to visit their countries; welcomes and encourages the efforts of non-governmental organizations and religious bodies and groups to promote the implementation of the Declaration.

Adopted without vote, 70th meeting

4 p.

Adopted at the 70th plenary meeting, 12 Dec. 1997.