Submission to the 27th session of the UPR

CSW monitors and raises awareness of the human rights situation in India and undertakes fact-finding assignments to the country, with the latest undertaken in 2015. This submission seeks to draw attention to particular concerns regarding the right to freedom of religion or belief in India.

CONSTITUTIONAL AND INTERNATIONAL LEGAL OBLIGATIONS

In the Preamble of India’s constitution, the country is defined as a secular state. The constitution also designates freedom of religion as a fundamental right and prohibits discrimination on the basis of religion (Article 25). Other relevant articles in the constitution include Article 26, which protects the freedom to manage religious affairs.

India’s obligation under international law includes its accession to the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR) and the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights (ICESCR). India has also ratified the Convention on the Rights of the Child. These conventions protect the right to freedom of religion or belief and the rights of persons belonging to minority religions.

To read the submission in full, you can download as a pdf here.