HRC52: Oral statement during ID with the Special Rapporteur on the right to FoRB

Item 3: Interactive Dialogue with the Special Rapporteur on the right to freedom of religion or belief

Organisation: Christian Solidarity Worldwide (CSW)

Speaker:Claire Denman

Thank you, Mr President,

CSW welcomes the Special Rapporteur’s timely landscape report, and looks forward to the second edition of the Rapporteur’s Digest.

We stand with everyone facing injustice on account of their religion or belief, and urge states to implement the report’s recommendations, including by ensuring domestic and foreign policies avoid solely focusing on the promotion or protection of one religious or belief group, or “kin” religion, recognising that any special measures should be context-specific and in line with international human rights standards.

Conversely, we remain concerned by legislative discrimination against religious or belief minorities.

For example, India’s Citizenship Amendment Act 2019 (CAA), determines eligibility for citizenship based on a person’s religion, and excludes Muslims, including minority sects who sought refuge there.

In Iran, the Baha’i community is denied official recognition, and consistently targeted with hate speech and repressive policies, including restrictions on access to education and burial sites, land confiscation and mass displacement.

We appeal to every state to guarantee the right to freedom of religion or belief for all, in law, in practice, and in accordance with Article 18 of the ICCPR, and to mainstream this right into daily life.

Special Rapporteur, your report highlights the fact that two thirds of member states have issued standing invitations to thematic special procedures, yet the process of securing country visits remains time consuming. What more can states do to expedite this process, and to use such visits to advance freedom of religion or belief?

Thank you.