E/CN.4/1991/56
page 60
a priority concern in this area, our country does none the less consider it
beneficial to develop human rights technical assistance projects which take
into account specific aspects of the principles and standards which govern
freedom of religion and belief."
Yugoslavia
"In view of the current growing religious tensions and the negative
experience in this respect throughout out history, Yugoslavia is interested in
informing the world public about the developments and problems in this field,
sharing experience with countries having similar problems and in participating
in the exchange of views within the United Nations in order to contribute to
the overall efforts aimed at eliminating intolerance and discrimination based
on religion or belief at the national and global levels."
B.
Specific incidents in various countries
by the Special Rapporteur
32. In addition to the general questionnaire addressed to all Governments
on 25 July 1990, the Special Rapporteur addressed specific requests to a
number of Governments in accordance with the provisions of paragraph 12 of
Commission on Human Rights resolution 1990/27, whereby the Special Rapporteur
was invited "to ssek the views and comments of the Government concerned on any
information which he intends to include in his report", and with reference to
the provisions of paragraph 13, whereby the Commission cslls upon Governments
"to co-operate with the Special Rapporteur, inter alia by responding
expeditiously to requests for such views and comments". In these specific
communications the Special Rapporteur requested any comments on the subject of
information on situations which seemed to involve a departure from the
provisions of the Declaration, particularly those dealing with the enjoyment
of the right of freedom of thought, conscience and religion (arts. 1 and 6 ) ;
the prevention, elimination and prohibition of discrimination and intolerance
on the grounds of religion or belief in the recognition, exercise and
enjoyment of human rights and fundamental freedoms (arts. 2-4); the right of
parents to organize the life within the family in accordance with their
religious beliefs and the right of children to have access to a religious
education in accordance with the wishes of their parents, as well as the right
of children to be protected from any form of discrimination on the grounds of
religion or belief (art. 5 ) .
33. By a letter dated 9 November 1990, the Special Rapporteur informed the
Governments which had not sent their comments and observations on the cases
which had been transmitted to them to do so by 10 December 1990. He indicated
that communications arriving after this date would be reflected in his report
to the forty-eighth session of the Commission on Human Rights in 1992.
34. As of 20 December 1990, the following Governments had replied to the
specific communications transmitted to them by the Special Rapporteur
during 1990 regarding situations which seemed to involve a departure from the
provisions of the Declaration: Albania, Bulgaria, China, Colombia, Egypt,
Greece, India, Indonesia, the Islamic Republic of Iran, Israel, Saudi Arabia
and Turkey.
35. In addition, following specific communications transmitted to Governments
during 1989, the Special Rapporteur received in 1990 replies from the
Governments of Bulgaria, Burundi, China, Mauritania and Mexico. Both the
specific communications and their replies are included in this report.