Special Rapporteur on freedom of religion or belief

Introduction

The Special Rapporteur on freedom of religion or belief is an independent expert appointed by the UN Human Rights Council. The mandate holder has been invited to identify existing and emerging obstacles to the enjoyment of the right to freedom of religion or belief and present recommendations on ways and means to overcome such obstacles.

Historical background

The United Nations Commission on Human Rights appointed in resolution 1986/20 a “Special Rapporteur on religious intolerance”. In 2000, the Commission on Human Rights decided to change the mandate title to “Special Rapporteur on freedom of religion or belief”, which was subsequently endorsed by ECOSOC decision 2000/261 and welcomed by General Assembly resolution 55/97. On 14 December 2007, the Human Rights Council extended the mandate of the Special Rapporteur for a further period of three years.

Mandate

The Special Rapporteur has been mandated by Human Rights Council resolution 6/37 (see full text in English, French, Spanish, and Russian):

- to promote the adoption of measures at the national, regional and international levels to ensure the promotion and protection of the right to freedom of religion or belief;

- to identify existing and emerging obstacles to the enjoyment of the right to freedom of religion or belief and present recommendations on ways and means to overcome such obstacles;

- to continue her/his efforts to examine incidents and governmental actions that are incompatible with the provisions of the Declaration on the Elimination of All Forms of Intolerance and of Discrimination Based on Religion or Belief and to recommend remedial measures as appropriate;

- to continue to apply a gender perspective, inter alia, through the identification of gender-specific abuses, in the reporting process, including in information collection and in recommendations.

Working methods

In the discharge of her mandate the Special Rapporteur:

a) transmits urgent appeals and communications to States with regard to cases that represent infringements of or impediments to the exercise of the right to freedom of religion and belief.

b) undertakes fact-finding country visits.

c) submits annual reports to the Commission on human rights/ the Human Rights Council, and General Assembly, on the activities, trends and methods of work.

Special Rapporteurs:

Ms. Asma Jahangir (Pakistan), since 2004
Mr. Abdelfattah Amor (Tunisia), 1993-2004
Mr. Angelo d'Almeida Ribeiro (Portugal), 1986-1993


Source: http://www2.ohchr.org/english/issues/religion/index.htm